Lion Football Defeats Crusaders, 38-28
Randolph rushes for 202 yards
MARS HILL, N.C. - Jonas Randolph ran for 202 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Lions past North Greenville, 38-28, Saturday afternoon in the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. MHC is 3-1 on the season and 2-0 at home after today's win. The Crusaders fell to an even 2-2 on the year.
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Randolph now has 4,117 career rushing yards and that moves him into fifth place all time in the SAC in the career rushing list. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry against NGU. Jon Richt went 13-27 for 170 yards and three passing touchdowns. Joshua Young caught five passes for 45 yards and one score. Dimitri Holmes caught three passes for 57 yards and one touchdown reception. Lion punter B.J. Richmond averaged 38.6 yards per punt placing two inside the 20 and had a 10-yard rush on fourth and three on the MHC 30 yard line early in the fourth quarter. That play was crucial as it kept the Lions drive alive and they scored six plays later to go ahead for good (31-28). Kevin Johnson led the Lion defense with 14 tackles, 10 solo, a sack and a tackle-for-loss. Chad Prioleau followed with 11 tackles, a sack, a tackle-for-loss and a quarterback hurry. Troy Harris also had a good day for the Lions making 10 tackles, nine of which were solo stops, three sacks, the same number of tackles-for-loss and two hurries. Michael Robinson had one interception, a 28-yard fumble return for a touchdown, a pass break-up and three tackles.
Randolph ran in from 15 yards out with 10:21 left to open the scoring. Tyran Melvin blocked the PAT kick and Isaiah Johnson picked it up and ran 95 yards for the two point conversion for the Crusaders (6-2).
On the next possession, Teryan Rucker scored from five yards out to cap off a five-play, 65 yard drive. Justin Gravely missed the extra point with 4:36 left in the first period (8-6).
With 25 seconds left in the first quarter, Willy Korn fumbled the snap and Michael Robinson picked up the ball and scampered 28 yards for a Lion score. Melvin once again blocked the PAT kick attempt (12-8).
The Crusaders' defense forced Mars Hill to turn the ball over on downs at the North Greenville 31 and NGU then drove 69 yards on eight plays with 7:01 left in the first half to take a 15-12 lead.
After Mars Hill forced a punt they got the ball at own 48 with
two minutes left. Richt hit Akeem Ferguson for a 10-yard Lion
touchdown with 1:35 left in the half. Richt's pass on the ensuing
two point conversion was ruled an incompletion (18-15).
NGU took kickoff and drove to the 23 yard line on six plays. Justin
Gravely hit a 34-yard field goal as the horn sounded to end the
second quarter. The teams took a 18-18 tie into the locker room at
the intermission.
On NGU's first drive of the second half Gravely added a 25-yard field goal to put the Crusaders ahead 21-18 with 8:44 left in the third stanza. On the Lions' next possession, Jamarius Robinson picked off a Jon Richt pass and ran 25 yards for a Crusader touchdown (28-18). The Lions' defense tightened after that point as MHC would not allow any more points.
Richt then found Joshua Young on a 19-yard touchdown strike with 1:11 on the clock (28-25). That would end the scoring in the third frame.
A fake punt call had punter B.J. Richmond rush 10 yards for a first down and extend possible the Lions' most important drive. Richt hit Dimitri Holmes for a 17 yard touchdown pass with 10:15 left that put Mars Hill up for good (31-28). Again the Lions defense held strong forcing the Crusaders to punt after three downs on their next possession.
Randolph scored his final touchdown from 24 yards out at the 8:53 mark (38-28). That scored sealed the win for the Lions.
Mars Hill will play at SAC rival Newberry College next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.