Bulldogs break away from Lions for 35-10 win
October 11, 2008

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- Royse City broke open a tight game in the second half to hand the Greenville Lions a 35-10 homecoming loss on Friday night at T.A. “Cotton” Ford Stadium.

Greenville, which traditionally plays well on homecoming, battled the Bulldogs to a 10-10 standoff in the first half and held a 140-131 advantage in total yards.

But the Bulldogs dominated play in the second half, outgaining the Lions 240-64 and reeled off 25 unanswered points to improve to 5-1 for the season and remained undefeated in District 10-4A at 3-0.

“They went to a different level in the second half and we didn’t match it,” said Greenville coach Jim Phillips, whose Lions dropped to 1-5 for the season.

A third quarter fumble seemed to take the fight out of the Lions.

After Royse City drove 59 yards in nine plays to go up 17-10, the Lions marched from their 40 to the Bulldog 19 with runs of 25 and 19 yards from quarterback Alton Dennis, who finished with 136 yards on 23 carries.

But the Bulldog defense dug in at its 15, stopping Dennis for three straight losses and Royse City linebacker Scotty Arterberry stripped the Greenville quarterback of the football and recovered the fumble at the Royse City 30.

That turnover sparked a quick, 70-yard, four-play Royse City drive capped by a 44-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Richard Morrison to wide receiver Devin Bryant.

Now trailing 23-10, the Lions could not recover from the setback. They gave up a safety when punter Ryan Rumph had trouble with a low snap and Royse City’s T.J. Hardy blocked Rumph’s punt. The ball rolled into the end zone. Rumph wisely prevented a touchdown by booting the ball out of the back of the end zone as Royse City was awarded a safety.

Royse City took Rumph’s free kick and marched 50 yards in eight plays as Morrison lofted a picture-perfect 28-yard touchdown strike to J.T. Thompson, who made the over-the-shoulder catch in the end zone.

Royse City followed a B.J. Farrah interception with a drive from its three to the Greenville 15 to set up Kollin Padon’s 33-yard field goal for the game’s final points.

Morrison went 20-of-33 passing for 310 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs.

Greenville remained winless in district play at 0-3.

Royse City coach Greg Strahm said he expected a tough game from the Lions.

“Any time they’ve played at home they’ve played extremely tough,” he said.

At halftime he said the Royse City coaches talked to the Bulldogs about playing four quarters.

“We needed to put pressure on them,” he said. “We corrected a few mistakes we made.”

Greenville scored on its opening possession, driving 72 yards in 11 plays. Dennis dashed off gains of 4, 9, 8, 8 and 16 yards and tailback Dakieston Williams pounded ahead for runs of 7 and 11 yards. Greenville went to the air for the first time for the touchdown as Dennis connected with wide receiver Aaron Johnson on a 28-yard touchdown strike on a post pattern. Johnson was hit at the 10-yard line but stayed on his feet and raced to the end zone for Greenville's first touchdown reception this season. Rumph's kick made it 7-0 with 6:21 left in the opening quarter.

Morrison answered Greenville's touchdown with a 52-yard completion to Justin Jacobs to set up the Bulldogs at the Greenville 23. But the Lion defense dug in, stopping Ryan Fedric for no gain, forcing an incompletion on second down and then linebacker DaShaun Thomas sacked Morrison for a 6-yard loss at the Greenville 29. Padon tried a 46-yard field goal but sent it wide left.

Cameron Nichols' interception stopped a Greenville threat in the second quarter and set up the Bulldogs for a 61-yard, 13-play drive. Morrison was 4-of-6 passing on the drive for 45 yards. Fedric capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run on second and goal. Padon's kick tied it at 7-7 with 7:35 left before halftime.

Greenville answered Royse City's touchdown with a 11-play drive from the Lions' 34 to the Bulldog 19. Dennis ran for gains of 6, 16, 4, 4, 7 and 4 yards and Williams powered ahead for runs of 6 and 8 yards. Farrar of Royse City stopped the Lions' momentum by tackling Williams for a 6-yard loss on first down. Royse City also forced a Dennis incompletion on third down and the Lions had to settle for Rumph's 36-yard field goal with 1:40 left before the half.

Trevor White set up a Royse City field goal right before the half with a 51-yard kickoff return. Padon delivered with a 44-yard boot to send the two teams into halftime tied at 10-10.