Lions roll past Little Elm, 29-14
September 5, 2009

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

	Photo By Laurie White King/ Herald-Banner Staff Dakieston Williams tries to turn the corner on this carry for the Greenville Lions during their 29-14 victory over Little Elm on Friday night. Williams finished with 49 yards on 10 carries.

LITTLE ELM -- Quarterback Alton Dennis racked up 280 yards of total offense as the Greenville Lions rolled to a 29-14 non-district football victory over Little Elm on Friday night.

Dennis, a 6-0, 180-pound senior, rushed for 161 yards on 16 carries, scoring on sprints of 76 and 14 yards, and was 3-of-11 passing for 119 yards. He threw for touchdowns of 76 and 35 yards to wide receiver Jarvis Bruner.

Greenville finished with 429 total yards, including 310 rushing, to stay undefeated for the young season at 2-0.

Little Elm managed 220 yards, all of it on the ground, and dropped to 0-2.

Little Elm’s wishbone offense chewed up most of the clock in the first half as the Lobos held a 16:46 to 7:14 advantage in time of possession.

The Lobos took the opening kickoff and drove to the Lion 18 in 12 plays, eating up nearly seven minutes. The big play was a 10-yard run for a first down by the holder Chris Lear on a fake field goal attempt of 51 yards.

But a blocking-below-the-waist penalty backed the Lobos back to the Greenville 33 and the drive stalled. Little Elm didn’t fake the next field goal attempt but Matt Utt’s 43-yard try sailed wide to the right at the 4:46 mark of the opening quarter.

Dennis and the Lions wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. The senior quarterback raced 76 yards down the left sidelines for the touchdown on Greenville’s second play from scrimmage. Ryan Wilhelm’s kick gave Greenville a 7-0 lead with 3:53 left in the first period.

The Lions let one scoring opportunity slip away in the second quarter when Cobbie Johnson’s 75-yard punt return for a touchdown was called back by a holding penalty. Johnson broke several tackles on what would have been an impressive return.

After getting backed up to their 22 by the penalty, the Lions had to punt and Little Elm set up camp at the Greenville 40 following a short punt. The Lobos drove the distance in seven plays topped off by Bryant Johnson’s 11-yard run over right tackle for the touchdown with 2:42 left before halftime. Lear, the holder, ran for the goal line on a fake conversion kick and got the ball close to the goal line when he was tackled. The officials ruled in favor of Little Elm, giving the Lobos the two-point conversion, though Lions coach Jim Phillips did not appear to agree with the call.

The fired-up Lions retaliated three plays later with Dennis’ 76-yard completion to wide receiver Jarvis Bruner for the touchdown with 1:30 left before the half. Dennis found Bruner alone near midfield and Bruner’s fleet feet did the rest. Wilhelm’s kick gave Greenville a 14-8 halftime advantage.

Greenville took the first possession of the second half 80 yards to score in 10 plays. Greenville marched to the Little Elm 22 then got backed up to the 40 with a holding penalty and a quarterback sack but got a break on a pass interference call on a second-and-28 pass. Bruner scored on the next play with a 35-yard pass from Dennis. Dennis ran in for the two points to make it 22-8.

The Lions upped the count to 29-8 with a 78-yard, 12-play drive. The drive stalled at the Little Elm 23 and the Lions called for Wilhelm to attempt a 40-yard field goal. Wilhelm’s kick bounced off the right upright but the Lobos were flagged five yards for running into the kicker. Dennis kept the drive alive by converting fourth and three from the Lobo 18 and then scored the next play on a 14-yard keeper with 1:13 left in the third quarter. Wilhelm’s kick made it 29-8.

Little Elm dented the final margin after Phillips pulled most of the Lions’ starters. Xavier Williams scored on a 6-yard run with 53 seconds remaining for Little Elm after Lobo quarterback Brandon Dubley broke for a 48-yard run.