Football Loses to Newberry
The Lions’ football team lost to South Atlantic Conference opponent Newberry College 35-21 Saturday afternoon.
MARS HILL, N.C. – The Lions' football team lost to South Atlantic Conference opponent Newberry College 35-21 Saturday afternoon at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. It was the Lions' annual Homecoming game. The Lions fell to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the league. The Wolves improved to 5-1 on the season and 3-0 in the SAC.
Jamel Harbison set season highs for rushing yardage and carries in the contest. Harbison rushed for 206 yards on 41 carries averaging 5.0 yards per carry. This was his fifth consecutive game rushing for over 100 yards. Harbison is now averaging 128.5 yards per game, good enough for second place among SAC rushers. Craig Rucker caught eight passes for 98 yards. Jerjuan Edwards led the Lions defense with eight tackles (5 solo), three sacks, two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. Carl Mattox followed with six tackles (5 solo), a tackle-for-loss and a pass break-up.
Raleigh Yeldell threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns completing 22-33 passes to lead the Wolves offensively. Cole Watson was on the receiving end of 10 of his passes for 151 yards. Rondreas Truesdale rushed for 82 yards and one score on 10 carries. Will Elm recorded a game high 13 stops (9 solo) followed by Joe Blue with 12 tackles (7 solo). Marcus Brown picked off two Lion passes in the contest.
Newberry recorded 457 total yards while the Lions racked up 412 yards. Mars Hill suffered three turnovers while the Wolves turned the ball over twice. The teams combined for 18 penalties that accumulated 191 yards.
The Lions jumped out to a 7-0 advantage with 12 seconds left in the first quarter when David Salmon hit Keshaun Taylor for a 21-yard touchdown strike. A 16-yard pass from Yeldell to Wesley Jordan with 12:04 left in the second frame tied the contest at 7-all. A three-yard pass play from Austin Brown to Kedar Bryant gave the Lions a 14-7 advantage with 6:27 left in the first half of play. The teams would carry that score into the locker room at the intermission.
Newberry put the game away in the second half scoring 28 unanswered points. Romelo Doctor dove in from a yard out with 11:30 left in the third quarter before Yeldell connected with Keinen Lewis on a 57-yard pass play with 6:38 left in the third stanza. A 22-yard scamper by Truesdale with 14:28 left in the fourth period extended the Wolves lead to 28-14. Doctor found the endzone on a two-yard rush to end the scoring for Newberry with 4:49 left in the game. Brown hit Shadow Christenson on a nine-yard pass with 1:18 left in regulation to make the final tally 35-21 in favor of the visitors.
Mars Hill will host SAC Foe Catawba on Saturday, October 15. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
