Lions break away from R.L. Turner for district win
October 24, 2009

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

CARROLLTON -- Greenville’s Lions broke open a tight game with four touchdowns in the third quarter on the way to a 42-16 District 10-4A football victory over the R.L. Turner Lions on Friday night.

Greenville led only 7-3 at halftime but scored four touchdowns in a 7 1/2-minute span to finally pull away from a winless R.L. Turner team that was fighting hard on its homecoming.

The victory improved the Greenville Lions’ season record to 5-3 and 10-4A mark to 2-3 while R.L. Turner dropped to 0-8 and 0-5.

Greenville senior linebacker Tristian Farley was injured in a collision on the field with 1:45 left in the third quarter, was taken off on a stretcher and then left Standridge Stadium in an ambulance.

Greenville’s third quarter explosion started with a 40-yard punt return by Cobbie Johnson to the R.L. Turner 10-yard line. Running back Dakieston Williams powered in for the touchdown on the next play.

The Lion defense scored four plays later when R.L. Turner’s quarterback had trouble handling a snap from center on third and 11 from his 12, the ball then rolled into the end zone where the fumble was recovered for a touchdown by Greenville defensive end Manon Steward.

Greenville’s defense forced a punt and then the Lion offense marched 54 yards for another touchdown in seven plays. Quarterback Alton Dennis, who was 9-of-18 passing for 121 yards, threw 16 yards to wide receiver Dijoun Sheppard for the touchdown on a rollout pass.

The Lion defense set up Greenville’s next touchdown on a fumble recovery by defensive tackle Courtney White that he returned 13 yards to the R.L. Turner five. After the Lions were backed up five yards by a penalty, Dennis ran 10 yards for his second touchdown of the game and eighth of the season. Dennis, Greenville’s senior quarterback, rushed for 106 yards on 13 carries in the game, pushing his season rushing total to 1,050 yards.

After R.L. Turner answered with a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Pedro Galvan to wide receiver Charles Moore, Greenville’s reserve quarterback Jeffro Davis connected with wide receiver Jarvis Bruner on a 95-yard touchdown pass and catch with 2:34 left. It was the Lions’ longest play from scrimmage this season. Ryan Wilhelm booted his sixth extra point of the game to put the Lions up 42-10.

R.L. Turner added a final touchdown with 14 seconds remaining on a 10-yard pass from Galvan to Moore. Galvan was 22-of-51 passing for 277 yards with two interceptions.

Greenville’s run defense stopped the other Lions for a minus 16 yards on 14 carries.

Greenville won the coin toss, took the ball and scored without much resistance on its opening possession, covering 72 yards in seven plays. Dennis connected on strikes of 17 and 15 yards to wide receiver Devonte Green. Dennis also raced 11 yards for a first down before capping the drive with a 16-yard run around left end for the touchdown with 8:57 left in the opening stanza. Wilhelm’s kick made it 7-0. Green led Lion receivers with seven catches for 93 yards.

But that would end scoring for the Lions in the first half as they lost two fumbles and an interception.

A Greenville turnover led to R.L. Turner’s only points of the first half. Charles Moore’s interception return, coupled with a personal foul penalty against Greenville, set up R.L. Turner at the Greenville nine. Farley stopped R.L. Turner running back Brandon Moore for a 1-yard loss on first down. Greenville’s defense forced two more incompletions, forcing the hosts to settle for Soto’s 28-yard field goal with 4:40 left before the half.

Greenville tried to put more points on the scoreboard before the half ended as Dennis broke loose for runs of 25 and 24 yards. But the drive stalled at the R.L. Turner 17 and Wilhelm missed a 34-yard field goal try with three seconds left before halftime.