Road woes continue for Lions with loss
October 18, 2008

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

CARROLLTON -- Newman Smith celebrated homecoming on Friday night with a 34-14 victory over the Greenville Lions.

Newman Smith, now 2-5, doubled its victory total from the previous season and squared its District 10-4A record at 2-2.

Greenville dropped to 1-6 and remained winless in District 10-4A at 0-4.

Newman Smith forced three Greenville turnovers, converting two of them into 14 points, recovered one kickoff the Lions left uncovered and outgained the Lions 324-277 in total yardage.

Greenville coach Jim Phillips, in his first season with the Lions, said it’s going to take time to get the Lions’ football team hitting on all cylinders.

“That’s part of building a program,” he said. “That takes time for it to click. I see some things we’re doing right.”

Newman Smith took its first two possessions in for two touchdowns to build a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Trojans marched 77 yards in 10 plays with the game's opening possession. Running back Randall Joyner reeled off runs of 6, 19 and 14 yards and wide receiver Kevin Gaines dashed for 25 yards on a reverse. Quarterback Aldo Quiroga capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Greenville threatened on its first possession, marching from its 30 to the Trojan 33 thanks to a 24-yard run by quarterback Alton Dennis and bursts of 8, 4 and 4 yards by tailback Dakieston Williams. But Dennis finished a yard short of a first down on a fourth-and-nine keeper from the Trojan 33.

Newman Smith took over on downs and covered 75 yards in eight plays. Gaines ran for another 20 yards and Quiroga kept for a 17-yard gain before Quiroga fired a 15-yard touchdown strike to Al Lasker. Phillippe Ichter's kick gave the Trojans a 14-0 advantage with 1:31 left in the first quarter.

Greenville came up short on another fourth-down try from the Trojan 28 on its second possession. Dennis gained a yard on a fourth-and-six keeper.

The Lions missed out on one possible scoring opportunity later in the second quarter on what appeared to be two blown calls by the officials. A Trojan lateral behind the line of scrimmage on a third-and-five play from the Newman Smith 32 that was recovered by Greenville linebacker Andy Wood was ruled an incompletion and for some strange reason the officials, after conferring, wiped out the play and let Newman Smith run another play before punting.

The fired up Lions forced a punt before Greenville's offense cut the Trojans' lead in half with Williams' 51-yard touchdown run and Ryan Rumph's extra point. Williams broke a couple of tackles before sprinting down the left sidelines for the junior running back's sixth touchdown run of the season.

Newman Smith stretched its lead to 17-7 before the half by marching from its 46 to the Greenville 12 to set up a 29-yard field goal by Ichter.

A 42-yard fumble return by Newman Smith defensive end Aundrey Barr to the Greenville 1-yard line set up the Trojans’ next score. Greenville’s defense dug in and after a holding call negated Quiroga’s 2-yard touchdown run, the Trojans had to settle for Ichter’s 29-yard field goal that made it 20-7.

Greenville didn’t cover Ichter’s short, high kickoff that was recovered by Brandon Mims at the Greenville 25. Though Quiroga was sacked for a 10-yard loss on first down, the Trojans got the touchdown three plays later on a 30-yard pass from Quiroga to Al Lasker.

Zain Dhanini’s interception stopped a Greenville threat at the Newman Smith 29 and let to a 71-yard, 10-play drive topped by Quiroga’s 11-yard touchdown run.

N.J. Mason returned the Newman Smith kickoff 88 yards for a Greenville touchdown. Rumph’s kick capped scoring at 34-14.

Quiroga was 7-of-12 passing for 141 yards for the Trojans and rushed for 48 yards on 14 carries.

Williams finished with 105 yards on 19 carries for the Lions. Denis wound up with 87 yards on 12 carries and was 8-of-16 passing for 69 yards.