by Gary Gorman
Last Friday night, with the nip of winter in the air, the Cornerstone Christian Bulldogs came to Lyons and got a bite taken out of them by the Lyons football team. The game started with the score 0 - 0, and that was as close as the Bulldogs came to
a lead over the next sixty minutes. The Lions returned the opening kick to the 45-yard line, and in four running plays drove the ball down to the Bulldog 25-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Jordan Melani shot up the middle, and into the end zone for a score. Forrest Donnell kicked the extra point, and with only two minutes off the clock, the Lions took a 7 - 0 lead.
The Lions defense shut down the Bulldogs first drive by sacking the quarterback and tackling a running back for ten yard losess on successive plays. With the Bulldogs punter standing in his own end zone the Lions sent Levi Campbell after the punter. Campbell’s pressure was enough to shake the punter, causing the short punt to the Bulldogs 45-yard line (that would not be the last of Campbell the frazzled punter would see). It took the Lions only three plays to find the end zone again. From the 25-yard line, Melani took the ball and rolled to the right. After a nifty scamper, a Bulldog defensive back tried to stop the QB on the goal line; Melani ran right over him. The Donnell kick completed the drive and the Lions were up 14 - 0. The Bulldogs next drive was a repeat of the first, with three plays and punt. This time Campbell got to the punter and not only blocked the punt, but he then recovered it in the end zone for another TD. Donnell added the extra point, and the Lions were up 21 - 0.
On the next Lyons possession, Melani lofted a pretty pass to Anthony Triffet for a 30-yard gain. Triffet got the call again, this time on a running play, weaving his way through the Bulldogs to pay dirt. With another perfect kick by Donnell, the home team was up 28-0 with as the first quarter came to a close. The Bulldogs opened the second quarter, still not able to make any headway against the stout Lyons defense. After their drive stalled near midfield, the snap to the punter was low, and the beleaguered kicker found Campbell in his ear hole again. Campbell alertly scooped up the pigskin, and scampered 25-yards untouched for another Lions score.
With a 35-0 lead, the Lions defense held, and the offense pounded down the field again, with Melani, on a QB keeper, taking the ball in for a score. Donnell’s kick made it Lions 42, Bulldogs 0. The Bulldogs were able to put together a drive late in the half leading to a score, but point after try was no good, and the teams went into the locker room with the Lions up 42 - 6.
In the third quarter, with the clock on running time (no clock stoppages after incomplete passes or out of bounds) the game moved along at a brisk clip. With the younger players getting a lot of playing time, the Bulldogs moved down the field and into the end zone, making it 42 - 12. Their two-point conversion was not successful. The young Lions were able to move the ball deep into their opponent’s territory, where Donnell’s 30-yard field goal made it 45 to 12.
The game ball went to Levi Campbell (who suffered a broken hand earlier in the season, but was back a full strength and speed) for keeping the Bulldog quarterback on the run all night, and giving their punter nightmares. Quarterback Melani had a big night with 103 yards rushing, 96 passing, and three touchdowns; Donnell was perfect with his six extra points and a field goal. The Lions travel next to face a tough Byers team on Saturday, October 22, for a game at 1 p.m. So grab the kids, pack the car, and head to the game as the Lions keep heading for the state playoffs.
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