Big plays lift Lions over Hawks

When Holly Springs cut into an H.W. Byers lead Friday night, the Lions responded and left Sam Coopwood Park with a 26-18 win.

“We needed guys to make plays, and they did,” said Mario Lane, head coach of the Lions.

The biggest of the big play guys were quarterback Corey Willis Jr. and wide receiver Jaylen Lesueur. With 4:52 left in the game, Holly High pulled to within 20-12 on a 32-yard pass from Martavion Davis to Chardarius Faulkner.

Two plays later Willis threw deep for Lesueur, who made the snag and gained 60 yards to the Hawks’ 4-yard line.

Coach Lane said he didn’t actually call the biggest of the big plays.

“It was an inadvertent snap,” he said. “That’s what you expect from two seniors. That was senior to senior and probably saved the game for us.”

Jacob Rivera scored from the 2 to make it a 26-12 late-game advantage for Byers.

The Lions improved 2-0 on the season, both opponents being Marshall County rivals and larger schools. They knocked off Byhalia in week one.

“I thought we regressed some from week one,” Lane said, “but we were scrappy. We fought. The defense played well, too.”

Two touchdown tosses from Willis, one for 17 yards to Lesueur and anther covering 31 yards to Anterrio Guy put the Lions up by two scores at halftime. Willis also kept for a two-point conversion after the second touchdown to make it 13-0.

Holly High’s Khiylen Taylor halted a big Byers threat to start the third period. He intercepted a pass in his own end zone and returned it 34 yards. Coach Clifford Brown’s offense fed off the momentum. Faulkner scored on a 24-yard dash.

In the fourth, the Lions got a 30-yard kickoff return from Lesueur. Four plays later, Kesean Lafrance carried 2 yards for six points. Willis kicked the extra point for 20-6 lead.

The two rivals then swapped the scoring plays within a one-minute span in the fourth. Byers had the 14-point lead at 26-12. But the never-say-die Hawks used a 40-yard toss from Davis to Kyson Isom to reach the Lions’ 5-yard line and a touchdown plunge from there by Davis to pull within 8 with 1:43 left.

Byers recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Willis threw for 247 yards and ran for 42. Lesueur caught four passes for 135 yards. He also had three tackles and a pass breakup on defense. Brandon Paige led the defense with 13 tackles, three tackles for loss.

Byers continues the early-season slate against bigger schools by hosting North Panola this Friday. Holly Springs (0-2) visits Walnut.