Forney spoils debut of new GHS coach
August 30, 2008

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

FORNEY -- Running back Peter Smith and the Forney Jackrabbits spoiled Jim Phillips’ debut as Greenville’s head coach, handing the Lions a 25-15 loss on Friday night in the 2008 opener.

Smith, 5-10, 185-pound senior, darted and dashed his way for 239 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. He scored on runs of 33, 2 and 17 yards as Forney stacked up 355 yards, including 302 rushing.

Greenville’s offense couldn’t get much going, managing only six first downs and 86 total yards. Forney’s scrambling 4-3 defense held the Lions to only five yards in the second half.

“I didn’t prepare them (the Lions) good enough for the line play,” said Phillips. “They’re good both ways on the line. The kids played hard. I can’t gripe about that.”

Greenville's special teams set up the game's first score as a wave of white and red Lions blocked Austin Walker's punt from the Forney 42. One of the Jackrabbits picked up the football, fumbled it and Greenville's Andrew Wood recovered the fumble and returned it to the Forney 7-yard line.

It took the Lions four plays to punch it in from the seven. After tailback Dakieston Williams was limited to two yards on two carries, quarterback Alton Dennis kept the ball for two yards. Facing fourth and goal from the Jackrabbit three, the Lions called a timeout to decide what to do next. Phillips elected to go for the touchdown instead of attempting a field goal and Dennis scored the touchdown on a bootleg keep around right end.

Greenville surprised Forney on the conversion as Ty Finney ran in on the swinging gate plate for the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.

The Lions failed to cash in on two promising possessions later in the first half, losing fumbles at the Forney 40 and 25.

Smith got the Jackrabbit offense moving following the second Greenville fumble at the Forney 25. The senior broke for runs of 28, 9 and 33 yards on a four-play, 75-yard drive. Smith weaved in and out of the Lion defense on the 33-yard touchdown run. Forney elected not to try to tie the game and settled for Juan Villareal's extra point kick that pulled Forney to within 8-7 with 10:50 left in the opening quarter.

Greenville's defense produced the game's next touchdown. Forney's quarterback lost a fumble at the Lion 48. The ball squirted through several sets of hands before Greenville's Tristan Farley picked the ball off the turf and rambled 52 yards for the touchdown. Ryan Rumph's kick gave the Lions a 15-7 lead with 7:26 left before the half.

Smith and the Jackrabbits answered Greenville's touchdown with a four-play, 60-yard drive. Smith picked up most of the yards on the drive, dashing 48 yards to the Greenville two before Smith powered in over right tackle on the next play for the touchdown. Forney quarterback Blake Branton dashed around left end for the two-point conversion to tie it at 15-15 with 5:40 left in the half.

Forney jumped ahead before halftime, driving from its 38 to the Lion 15 to set up Tucker Burke's 32-yard field goal on the last play of the half.

Forney took its final possession 53 yards in eight plays to score the game’s final touchdown. Smith ran 17 yards for the touchdown after having a 33-yard touchdown run negated by a holding penalty.

All of Greenville’s yardage was on the ground. Dennis finished with 42 yards on 18 carries and Williams managed 28 yards on 15 rushes.

Dennis was 0-for-1 passing and tried several more times to throw but was chased out of the pocket by the Forney defense.

Branton was 7-of-11 for 47 yards for Forney and also rushed for 58 yards on nine carries.

“We got a hold of a good football team,” said Phillips. “They’re big, strong and physical.”