St. Mark's Lions remain undefeated!
Let’s start by saying that if you were not able to make it to the game, you missed a barn-burner. The Lions started off with a bang, but the resilient EHS brought the heat in the second half. GREAT GAME and GREAT WIN for the LIONS!
St. Mark’s won the coin toss, but deferred so that they would receive the football to begin the second half. After two EHS first downs, the defense stiffened with Jimmy Papin bringing down the EHS runner just short of a third first down on 4th and three. After a nice scramble by Joe Bush, Bush hit Cameron Kline for 12 yards on the left sideline. Another excellent pass from Bush to Luke Williams for 13 yards gave St, Mark's a first down. Malcolm Bowman followed with a strong run around right end for 9 yards. Nice blocking up front allowed Bush to scramble for another first down. Catches by Kline and John Caldwell gave St. Mark’s an additional first down. Bush then completed a long pass to Caldwell for a touchdown.
An excellent pooch kickoff by Jacob Wilner resulted in a recovery by St. Mark’s where they immediately went to work with Bush spotting Kendrick Spraglin over the middle for 8 yards. On a tense fourth down, Bush hit Caldwell on a nice fingertip-diving catch down the right sideline to the 8 yard line. After a one yard run by Kline, Bush showed good patience and hit Kline in the end zone for a 7 yard touchdown stutter-step catch at the sideline.
EHS took over, and the front seven on defense applied immense pressure to force an immediate 3 and out.
Luke Williams caught a pass over the middle from Bush and broke a tackle for a first down. Bush had several short completions to Kline and then scrambled for another first down. After another bubble screen to Kline for 6 yards, EHS came up with a coverage sack. St. Mark's was forced to punt due to a penalty call for an ineligible man down field.
EHS started a drive from their 20, but could not overcome the St. Mark's defense who forced another three and out; however, St. Mark’s was forced to punt after another tough defensive stand by EHS.
EHS's Lloyd Julian had an excellent run back,but because one of the EHS players clipped Reid Thompson, their drive started on their own 32 yard line rather than in Lions territory. Jimmy Papin caused a fumble with a massive hit to the EHS runner, and it was recovered by George Law. Bush hit Cameron Kline on a left end across for 12 yards to the 16. A beautiful bumping run by Malcolm Bowman was negated by a holding call on the Lions. Caldwell drew an interference call on EHS in the end zone, giving St. Mark’s the ball on the 7 yard line. Good pressure by EHS resulted in two incomplete passes, followed by a nice low grab by Caldwell on the one inch line. Kline ran it in from the one yard line for a St. Mark’s 21-0 lead.
St. Mark’s defense came up with a huge play on a brilliant interception by Will Perkins. After a 14 yard completion from Bush to Kline, the St. Mark’s drive stalled, forcing a punt.
EHS got their offense going with three pass plays in a row for 15, 4 and 8 yards and two first downs. Dillard Pinkston tackled their quarterback in the backfield for a loss of 2 yards and then EHS’s offense produced two more first downs. Law came up with a sack and EHS’s receiver dropped a 4th and 12 attempt, giving the ball back to the Lions nearing the end of the first half.
Luke Williams caught a pass for 7 yards and a nice low catch by Caldwell gave St. Mark's a first down. Bush completed to Kline over the middle after extreme pressure for 18 yards. The Lions drive stalled and were forced to punt. EHS dropped the punt return setting them up for one last chance to score before the half. EHS was denied the opportunity to score. Two great plays by Will Perkins and Amir Saboorian forced EHS to punt.
The EHS long snapper sent the ball over the punter’s head, and St. Mark’s got one more chance to score before halftime. Bush showed poise and patience during a scramble and bulleted a pass to Kline in the back of the end zone for a remarkable touchdown. At the half, Lions led the Knights 28-0.
Lions were stopped on their first possession of the second half, and EHS took over on the Lions 13. Not to be outdone, Amir Saboorian tackled the Knights' quarterback for a 9 yard loss. Ardis Graham made a nice tackle after a short catch. On 3rd down, the EHS receiver dropped what would have been a touchdown. Perkins put pressure on the quarterback on 4th down and caused an incomplete pass. Great defensive stand by the defense.
Bush was dropped for a 5 yard loss, but then threw a nice pass to Kline, who was immediately stuffed on a good stick by the EHS secondary. Again, St. Mark’s was forced to punt, and their receiver fumbled the good high punt. EHS kept their offense going with runs of 7 and 18 by Cole Miller and reached the St. Mark’s 24 yard line. EHS quarterback Austin Robinson ran around left end for their first score of the game.
St. Mark’s rallied with two completed passes to Caldwell, but were then forced to punt after an EHS defensive stand. The punt was nearly blocked again, but a good roll put EHS on their own 31 yard line. EHS struck quickly on a nice double move by their wide out for 30 yards down the left sideline who was tackled by Cody Sixkiller and Harrison Hewitt. Another 13 yard run by Cole Miller and a nice 17 yard pass to tight end John Ballis put EHS on the Lions 8 yard line. EHS scored again on a quarterback keeper.
When St. Mark’s took over, Bush hit Caldwell for 17 on a busted coverage by EHS and again for 5 yards, but EHS was on the prowl and immediately dropped Williams after a 2 yard gain and then stopped Joe Bush on a fourth and two QB keeper short of the first down.
Dillard Pinkston sacked Robinson for a nine yard loss ending the third quarter.
EHS continued with great intensity and after a nice stop by Lions front seven for no gain, Austin Robinson rambled for a 23 yard pickup. The Lions sacked the EHS quarterback again which resulted in a punt and St. Mark’s took over on their own 44 yard line. A quick strike by Bush to Caldwell racked up 25 more yards, but the EHS defense made three good plays in a row and a 43-yard field goal attempt by St. Mark’s came up short.
Despite a sack by St, Mark's the EHS quarterback scrambled for 15 yards to gain a first down. Ardis Graham tackled their wideout immediately after an 11 yard reception, and Mac Labhart batted down an EHS pass. Papin followed with a solid tackle. The next EHS pass attempt was tipped, and Reid Thompson made a great heads up interception. Saboorian ran for 4, and Kline was tackled for a big loss on the next play. Bush threw incomplete on third down and the Knights took over again.
The EHS offensive line gave Robinson time to find their tight end over the middle for 15 yards, but pressure from the St. Mark’s defense caused the EHS 4th down pass attempt to fail. With St. Mark’s at midfield, Saboorian made two strong runs gaining 6 yards, but Bush was forced to scramble on 3rd down and came up short of a first down. St. Mark’s punted again, and Julian nearly got loose on the punt return, but good coverage by the Lions kept him in check.
Good plays by EHS resulted in a 15 yard completion over the middle, and good scrambling pickups got them to the Lions 9 yard line. Great pressure and a sack by Perkins and Papin was negated by a Lions offside call and after another drop by an EHS receiver in the end zone, Austin Robinson ran on a designed quarterback draw to bring the Knights within 7 points.
Pinkston was inserted on the “hands” team against the EHS onside kick attempt and grabbed the bouncing ball just in time. After a lateral to Kline for a loss, Bush hit Caldwell for 28 yards and a first down. Strong runs by Amir Saboorian ended the game for the Lions 28-21 victory.
Great intensity and play in the first half by the Lions. Great intensity and play in the second half by the Knights. Tough to go out of town and get a win against a physical opponent, but the teamwork and FAST and PHYSICAL play of the Lions came through over and over again in the clutch.
GO LIONS. KEEP IT UP. FAST and PHYSICAL.
