by Gary Gorman
The Lyons High School football team traveled to Nederland last Thursday afternoon (October 6) to tangle the Panthers on the same day that winter decided to come to Colorado. The Lions started the game with an unexpected twist, by kicking the
on-side kick to open the game. The gambit was successful and the Lions started with good field position. Unfortunately, the Lyons looked this gift horse in the mouth. The Lions subsequently fumbled the ball back to the Panthers. Nederland wasted no time; they moved the ball down the field and scored. However, the extra point was no good and the Panthers led 6-0. The Lions took the ensuing kick-off and drove down the field with long runs by Jayse Long and Kyle Dick. With the ball on the Panthers 15-yard line, Kyle Dick got the call and darted untouched into the end zone. Forrest Donnell’s extra point gave the Lions a lead 7-6.
With the long bus ride shaken off, and the snow starting to come down, the Lions defense got down to work. The Panthers, starting on their own 20 after Donnell’s booming kick, the Lions defense rattled the Panthers’ cage, causing them to jump off sides three times, and backing them up to within the shadow (if the sun had been shining) of their goal post. With the Nederland punter standing at the back of the end zone, and Lions charging like it was feeding time at the zoo, Jordan Melani got a hand on the ball, and the punt only managed to get to the Panthers 30-yard line. The Lions ground the ball down to the 12-yard line before the drive stalled, and Mr. Reliable, Forrest Donnell, booted a chip-shot field goal putting the Lions up 10-6.
The Panthers were again overwhelmed by the ferocious Lion defense, and faired about the same: getting shut down and having to punt. This time, the Panthers’ punt only traveled about 20 yards, and the Lions took over on their opponent’s 40-yard line. After a nifty 15 yard scamper by Long, it was Melani’s turn. The quarterback bolted up the middle, and then cut to the outside, and into the corner of the end zone for the score. With Donnell’s extra point the Lions were up 17-6.
The next series, déjà vu all over again, with the stout Lyons defense shutting down the Panthers and forcing them to punt. Practice makes perfect, and this time the punt sailed all the way to the Lions’ 7-yard line. But the Lions offense was up to the task, and put together a strong drive with runs by Long and Kyle Dick. With the ball on the Panthers 5-yard line, it was Logan Watson’s turn to punch it in; sending the Lions into the locker room with a 24-6 halftime lead.
The Panthers, taking a page from the Lyons playbook, started the second half with their own on-side kick, but no one was fooled, and the Lions covered it, starting the second half exactly like they started the first half, with great field position. Not missing a beat, the boys advanced the ball to the Panthers 30-yard line. From there, QB Melani rolled to his right, and hit Kyle Dick with a perfect pass and he breezed untouched into the end zone. The extra point put the Lions up 31-6.
The third quarter was a big one for Kyle Dick, who ran the ball in for another Lions touchdown and he intercepted a pass. In the fourth quarter the Lions sputtered a little, letting the Panthers drive the length of the field (95 yards) to score. A fumble of the kick-off led to another quick score for the Panthers, and the score now stood at 38-18 (the two conversions were unsuccessful) in favor of Lyons. However, the Lions were able to regain their focus. A 50-yard jaunt by Long followed by a 7-yard Melani plunge into the end zone, and the score was 45-18 Lions. The Lions tacked on one more score for good measure when Zach Christiansen ran it in from a couple of yards out to give the Lions a convincing 52-18 win. The Lions start their push for the state play-offs when they take on Cornerstone this Friday (October 14) at home. Kick-off is at 7 p.m., so come out, make some noise and support the boys!
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