Terrell secures keepaway win over Greenville
September 4, 2010

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

TERRELL -- Terrell’s Tigers played keepaway with the football for most of the game to hand the Greenville Lions a 42-7 loss on Friday night.

The Tigers held big advantages in first downs (20-11), total yardage (458-131) and time of possession as they kept the Lions winless on the young season at 0-2 and stayed undefeated at 2-0.

“It’s definitely a growing experience,” said Chawn Cooper, the Lions’ first-year head coach. “It (Terrell) was a good football team talent-wise and all, just like we anticipated. We were big-eyed and not ready.”

Terrell took the opening kickoff and drove from its 25 to the Lions’ 11 but Greenville defensive end Justin Casselberry forced a fumble from a Terrell running back. Lion defensive back Cobbie Johnson, who is a former district 100-meter champion, scooped up the ball at about his 10-yard line and raced 90 yards for a Greenville touchdown. Zakery Halveron’s kick put the Lions up 7-0 with 7:50 left in the first quarter.

Terrell then answered the Lions with 42 unanswered points.

Greenville tried what appeared to be an onside kick but couldn’t get to Halverson’s kickoff that rolled out of bounds at the Terrell 49. Terrell took the ball at its 49 and marched to paydirt in eight plays, topped off by Adrian Oliver’s 4-yard touchdown run around left end. Josh Simmons’ kick tied it at 7-7 with 3:42 still left in the first period.

Terrell took advantage of a 19-yard Greenville punt to cover 50 yards in five plays on its next possession. Quarterback Shea South froze the Lion defense with a fake handoff before waltzing around right end from 13 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 11:55 left in the second quarter.

Greenville’s offense, which went nearly 14 minutes without a first down, finally got rolling, moving from its 37 to the Tiger 24. But the Lions muffed an option pitch and Terrell’s Preston Paulson fell on the fumble at the Tiger 20.

Terrell’s offense then churned out a seven-play drive for the touchdown. South threw to receivers Demarcus Ayers and Michael White for completions of 22 and 39 yards before Oliver finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run over right tackle.

The Lions threatened on their next possession after Lajorian Harris raced 20 yards to the Tiger 29. But Tiger defensive lineman Stephen Walton sacked Greenville quarterback Jeffro Davis for a 12-yard loss on third and nine. Harris led the Lion rushers with 83 yards on 22 carries.

Greenville then gambled on fourth down but running back Mikey Riskey was sacked for a 12-yard loss while trying to throw back to the quarterback Davis. Davis was 5-of-14 passing for 38 yards.

Terrell marched from the Lion 48 to the five but Lion defensive back Alfred Champion prevented a touchdown when he picked off a fade pass in the end zone with 32 seconds left before halftime.

Terrell went 80 yards in seven plays to score on its first possession of the second half, with Oliver scooting in from the nine.

The Tigers covered 53 yards in just three plays with their second possession of the second half. Ayers, in at quarterback in the Wildcat formation, dashed 46 yards to set up a 23-yard touchdown pass from South to Trae Hubbard, who dragged a couple of Lion defenders for the last five yards.

Cale Wardlaw added a final touchdown for Terrell with 8:40 left when he returned a blocked punt 22 yards for a touchdown.