Lions down Anderson in first-time meeting
Jon Gullette runs for career-high 180 yards in Lions' 31-16 win over Trojans.
ANDERSON, S.C. - The Mars Hill football team (5-3, 5-2 SAC) defeated Anderson (3-7, 1-6 SAC) by a score of 31-16 Saturday afternoon.
After Lon Teachey's 26-yard field goal sent the Lions into the second up 3-0, Izaiah Jean-Baptiste was on the receiving end of a 19-yard dart from JR Martin to put the Lions up by 10. Zaidon Gunn's 75-yard run with less than five minutes to play in the half pulled Anderson back within three entering the half.
Tyler Wesely connected on a 45-yard pass with Kenneth Brown to take Anderson's first and only lead of the game just 2:26 into the third. Martin capped off a seven-play, 77-yard drive with a four-yard rushing score to give the Lions the 17-13 lead. Anderson's Ross Burnette, with 4:31 left in the quarter, hit a 26-yard field goal to cut the Lions' lead down to one.
Mars Hill scored 14 unanswered in the fourth with David Hargro catching an 11-yard strike from Martin to send the Lions up 24-16. Jon Gullette, with under six minutes to play, added some insurance for the Lions, scoring on a 42-yard scamper.
The Lions put up 568 total yards of offense with 345 in the air from Martin. Gullette led all players with 180 yards on the ground on 21 carries, averaging over eight yards per carry. Edward Louis Jr. led the Lions with 87 yards receiving on two catches followed by Malik Laurent's 64 yards on four catches.
Defensively, the Lions were led by Dexter Fitzpatrick and Courtney Slocum's seven tackles. Steven Reid and Kobe Haynes each added a sack apiece while Neil Vertilus pulled down an interception.
The Lions will take on Limestone in the final game of the 2024 season. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.
