Lions fall to Mount Pleasant in homecoming game
October 2, 2010

By David Claybourn
Herald-Banner Staff

Mount Pleasant spoiled Greenville's homecoming, handing the Lions a 34-7 loss in their District 13-4A football opener on Friday night at T.A. "Cotton" Ford Stadium.

Mount Pleasant, which outgained the Lions 282-104 in total yardage, upped its season record to 1-5 and squared its district mark at 1-1.

The Lions remained winless at 0-5.

Not only did Greenville lose the game but Lion lineman Jorge Rodriguez left the field on a stretcher, receiving treatment for a possible neck injury, according to Lions coach Chawn Cooper. Rodriguez lifted an arm to acknowledge the crowd as he was taken off the field.

Cooper said four more Lions were sidelined during the game with possible concussions. The Lions played without two starters who received concussions in the previous game and eight players who left the program three weeks ago.

"We need an offseason right now," said Cooper. "Physically we're getting worn out."

Greenville couldn't get much going in the first half, finishing with just 31 yards of total offense and 40 yards in penalties. The Lions drew seven illegal procedure penalties.

"New quarterback in there," said Cooper, "New cadence, nerves, crowd noise. We had more false starts in the first series than we've had all season."

Mount Pleasant, meanwhile, drove in to score touchdowns on each of its first three possessions to build a 21-0 halftime lead.

The Tigers took the game's opening possession 64 yards, scoring in 13 plays, all runs. Quarterback Monty James ran for 18 yards, the biggest gain on the drive. The sophomore quarterback topped off the drive with a 5-yard keep for the touchdown. Rob Espinoza's extra point kick sailed wide.

Mount Pleasant's defense forced a punt and then the Tigers went 68 yards in only three plays. Wide receiver Khori Jones raced 68 yards for the touchdown on a reverse. James then passed to Justin Anderson for the two-point conversion on the swinging gate play.

Greenville went three and out on offense again. But instead of punting the ball on fourth and 21 from the Greenville 19, punter Mikey Riskey tried to run for the first down following a high snap. Riskey got tacked at his own 16.

"The snap was high," said Cooper. "He didn't think he could get it (the punt) off."

The Tigers needed only four plays to cover the 16 yards as running back Kannon Carter powered in from the five. Espinoza's kick made it 21-0 with 8:11 left in the second quarter.

Riskey spelled the starter, Marquist Davis, at quarterback and got the Lion offense rolling on a drive from their 36 to the Tiger 44. Riskey dashed for gains of eight and four yards and connected with receiver Austin Marin for completions of six and four yards.

But the Tiger defense dug in at its 44, forcing two incompletions and then defensive back Khori Jones stopped the Greenville threat with an interception at the Mount Pleasant 20.

A Greenville lateral that was ruled a fumble and recovered by the Tigers set up Mount Pleasant's 28-yard scoring drive in the third quarter. James ran five yards around right end for the touchdown on fourth and two.

Mount Pleasant upped the count to 34-0 later in the third period with a 64-yard, six-play drive capped on a 26-yard touchdown run by Stephen Julian.

Greenville averted the shutout with a 61-yard, 12-play drive in the fourth quarter directed by Riskey at quarterback. Riskey kept the drive alive with a 30-yard completion to Jaquentin Patt, who tight-roped the sideline to make the catch at the 1-yard line.

It took the Lions four cracks at the Mount Pleasant defense before scoring on Riskey's 1-yard bootleg run. The senior quarterback barely made it inside the left pylon. Zakery Halverson converted the kick to conclude scoring.