Lions get offensive in 2009 season
November 13, 2009

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- More offense equals more victories.

That was the story of the 2009 football season for the Greenville Lions, who turned a big surge in offensive production into their first winning record since 2003.

The Lions, who averaged 248.7 yards and 17.3 points per game while going 2-8 in 2008, kicked it up to 405.5 yards and 32 points to finish at 6-4.

Greenville doubled its passing production and ran for 900 more yards than the 2008 Lions did.

Led by senior quarterback Alton Dennis, the Lions rushed for 2,843 yards in 2009, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and 284.3 yards per game, compared to 194.3 yards and 4.7 yards per carry in 2008.

Dennis upped his rushing total from the previous season by 175 yards to finish with 1,190 yards and 10 touchdowns on 143 carries. Dennis finished his three-year varsity career with 2,148 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns on 324 carries.

Senior running back Dakieston Williams rushed for 792 yards and 13 TDs on 129 carries for the Lions to finish his three-year varsity career with 2,246 yards and 28 touchdowns on 394 carries.

Senior running back N.J. Mason added another 359 yards and three TDs on 61 carries and junior L’jorian Harris ran for 293 yards on 53 carries.

The Lions’ passing numbers were way up from last season. Dennis finished 61-of-131 for 950 yards and 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He was 98-of-230 passing in his career for 1,465 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Junior wide receiver Devonte Green, who had six catches for 139 yards last season, upped his total to 32 for 530 yards and two touchdowns in 2009.

Senior wide receiver Jarvis Bruner finished with 15 catches for 385 yards and seven touchdowns and senior Dijoun Sheppard added 13 catches for 179 yards.

Sophomore quarterback Jeffro Davis, who made one start for the Lions, finished 10-of-16 passing for 233 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Davis hooked up with Bruner for the Lions’ longest play from scrimmage, a 95-yard touchdown pass.

Williams also reeled off an 87-yard run in the last game, just missing on a chance for a 99-yard touchdown run.

Dennis turned in runs of 83 and 80 yards and Mason had a 71-yarder.

Greenville’s defense, meanwhile, allowed only two plays longer than 50 yards, a 76-yard run and a 63-yard pass.

However, he Lions’ total defensive allowance was up from last season. They gave up an average of 354.6 yards and 32.2 points per game compared to 301.5 yards and 29.8 points in 2008.

Opponents rushed for 1,727 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2009, up from the 2008 total of 1,487.

Opponents completed 134 of 255 attempts for 1,819 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2009, up from the 2008 totals of 1,529 yards and 17 TDs.

Greenville faced another formidable schedule in 2009 that included seven playoff teams. The Lions beat playoff teams Forney, Little Elm and Paris and lost to playoff teams Rockwall-Heath, Highland Park, Newman Smith and Pearce.

The 10 teams on the Lions’ schedule went a combined 51-49 for a .510 winning percentage.