September 27, 2008

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Lions' football team lost their SAC opener to No. 23 Catawba College, 24-7 Saturday afternoon at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. MHC fell to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in the SAC while Catawba improved to 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in the league.

Eric Morman (Rockingham, N.C.) caught a 13-yard pass from Howard Williamson (Greensboro, N.C.) with 5:42 left in the first quarter to put the Catawba Indians ahead 7-0 after a successful PAT kick from Thomas Trexler (Wilmington, N.C.). MHC tied the game at 7-all with 2:24 left in the opening frame after Elroy Harris (Orlando, Fla.) dove in from three yards out. Michael Pinkerton's (Bogart, Ga.) PAT kick sailed through the uprights to tie the contest. Unfortunately that would be all the scoring MHC would muster.

Antonio Hall (Greensboro, N.C.) pulled in a two-yard touchdown strike from Williamson with 6:01 left in the half and after another PAT kick by Trexler, Catawba led 14-7. Trexler than nailed a 42-yard field goal as the horn sounded to end the first half and Catawba took a 17-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, Brandon Bunn (Virginia Beach, Va) caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Dennis (Durham, N.C.) to end the scoring in the game. Trexler again converted the PAT kick.

Jamelle Cuthbertson (Charlotte, N.C.) rushed for 115 yards on 11 carries averaging 10.5 yards per run. Williamson completed 9-19 passes for 83 yards and two TD passes. Bunn caught three passes for 26 yards and one score. Trexler was 3-3 in PAT kicks, hit a 42-yard field goal and averaged 37.7 yards per punt and pinned the Lions inside the 20 three times. Charles McAfee (Charlotte, N.C.) led Catawba's defense with seven solo tackles, three for loss and a sack. Brandon Sutton (Snow Hill, N.C.) had four tackles and a interception return for 38 yards.

Ricky Spradling (Roan Mountain, Tenn.) threw for 239 yards completing 18-36 passes. Tyrea Allen (Murphy, N.C.) was on the receiving end of five of those passes for 103 yards. Zach Johnson (Newland, N.C.) led the defense with 10 tackles, six solo and a pass break-up. Darius Clark (Lancaster, Calif.) recorded 11 stops (7 solo). Stan Galbraith (Birmingham, Ala.) tallied six tackles, one for loss and a fumble recovery.

Mars Hill will play at No. 11 Carson-Newman College next Saturday in Jefferson City, Tenn, at 1 p.m. The Eagles lost to Newberry College today 27-21 in overtime. Catawba will play at Newberry on October 4 at 7 p.m.

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