Lions get huge lift in scrimmage
August 15, 2010

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- Greenville’s Lions were in need of a big play when Lajorian Harris took a handoff from quarterback Jeffro Davis.

Dallas Bishop Lynch had outgained the Lions 216-43 in total yardage, scoring an unanswered touchdown during Saturday’s football scrimmage at T.A. “Cotton” Ford Stadium. Not only that but the Lions had lost two fumbles and an interception.

But the Lions got a huge lift when Harris, nicknamed Cut, cut through the Friars’ defense, breaking past the secondary for a 61-yard run to the Bishop Lynch 9-yard line.

That big play, which led to the Lions’ first touchdown, helped Greenville outgain Bishop Lynch 256-249 in total yardage though the Friars ended up with a 3-2 advantage in touchdowns. Three big plays boosted the Lions’ final statistics as they ran for 216 yards and threw for 40.

“That’s the way we’re going to be,” said the Lions’ first-year head coach Chawn Cooper. “Play some defense and make some exceptional plays until we get the details ironed out.”

Harris’ run set up a 2-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Tony Rios on a fourth-and-goal bootleg.

Devonte Buchanan took advantage of a Bishop Lynch defense that was suddenly on its heels by dashing 70 yards for a touchdown on the Lions’ next play.

Davis later broke for a 28-yard run to the Bishop Lynch 28-yard line though the Lions ran out of plays in the 10-play format.

Bishop Lynch took some of the momentum back from the Lions with Kevin Sparkman’s 64-yard interception return for a touchdown during a live quarter.

Greenville lost five turnovers, including three fumbles.

“If we can keep from giving up big plays on defense and giving up turnovers on offense I think we will be able to win some ball games,” said Cooper.

Greenville’s defense had trouble tackling on Bishop Lynch’s first series as the Friars drove 62 yards in nine plays though the Lions buckled down at their 20, keeping Bishop Lynch from scoring.

“We’re hitting good, just not wrapping up well,” Cooper said of the Lions’ tackling issues.

Bishop Lynch’s second offense then covered 70 yards in 10 plays, including a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tony Dodson to Jacob Reimer on a slant pattern.

Greenville’s first and second offense managed only 19 yards in their first 10 plays, losing an interception and a fumble.

The Lion defense, directed by new coordinator Darren Hylander, limited Bishop Lynch to only 86 yards in its next 20 plays and forced an interception.

Greenville’s offense sputtered on its next seven plays, gaining only six yards and throwing an interception before Harris gave the team the big lift with the big run.

Bishop Lynch converted a Lion fumble into a 46-yard scoring drive in the live quarter, topped off by a 2-yard scoring run by Kevin Huffacker.

Cooper said overall he was pleased with the Lions’ performance.

“There’s nothing we did wrong that we can’t fix,” he said.

The Lions will scrimmage again Friday at Frisco Heritage in preparation for their season opener on Aug.. 27 at home against Little Elm.