Cardinals roll past Lions

H.W. Byers scored first Friday night but after that the 2019 version of the Marshall County clash belonged to Potts Camp.

The Cardinals answered with 30 straight points, led 36-14 at halftime and cruised to a 54-14 victory at Mt. Pleasant on the Lions’ home field.

“We responded well after their opening drive of the game,” said Darrow Anderson, head coach of the Cardinals. “Our kids executed and basically did what we asked them to do.

“We wanted to establish the running game, blocking well and attacking people. I though we did a pretty good job of that.”

The Lions, after the opening kickoff, marched 57 yards in seven plays to take an early lead. Malik Glover ran 17 yards on the first play of the game. A couple of plays later Michael James completed a pass over the middle to Julian Moore for 31 yards and a first down at the Potts Camp 7. After the home team lost a yard, Moore scored on an 8-yard reverse. He also carried for the two-point conversion.

Potts Camp scored three minutes later. Joshua Blake and Jeremiah Scott each had first-down runs. Blake scored on a 4-yard keeper with 5:28 to go in the first quarter. The try-for-two failed.

After forcing a Byers punt, the Cardinals scored the go-ahead points and never trailed again. Blake dashed 25 yards to the end zone. Scott cashed in the two-pointer. Potts Camp was up 14-8 late in the opening period.

The Potts Camp defense stopped the Lions on a fourth and five try.

Two plays later, Marquise Turnage got loose for 37 yards and six points. Blake added the conversion. The lead was 22-8.

Byers drove to the Cardinals’ 21 but couldn’t convert on a fourth-and-six play.

The Cards fumbled the ball away on their next possession with Shawn Sellers recovering for the Lions.

On a third and 20 for Byers, Potts Camp’s Turnage intercepted a pass and returned it 55 yards for a score. Blake ran for the conversion. The lead was 30-8 with 5:05 to go in the second quarter.

The Lions, with just 17 players on the team, did not quit.

They cashed in a 50-yard drive for their final points of the night. James completed a big 28-yard pass to Glover, which pushed the football to the Potts Camp 2. Moore then carried up the middle for the touchdown. The conversion attempt failed. It was 30-14.

Potts Camp snatched the momentum back on the final play of the first half. Blake passed to Markeio Raimey in the end zone for a 25-yard score. A try-for-two was not successful.

The Cardinals’ second-half touchdowns came on Scott’s 61-yard run, Trayveon Rook’s 8-yard carry and Peyton Baldwin’s 2-yard run.

“We just wore down in the game,” said Chris Daniels, head coach of the Lions. “On that opening series, we marched down the field and scored. And we moved it some offensively after that but just made mistakes.

“Defensively, we have to improve. Small like we are, we have to be able to tackle well. And we have to get more football savvy. In the secondary, at times, we’re just standing there watching the guys on the other team catch the football.”

The Cardinals (2-0) host Bluff City (Tenn.) (0-2) this Friday night.

“We have our four district games at the end of the season, which means we have four more weeks to improve and get some things fixed,” Coach Anderson said. “Overall, I was pleased with our effort against Byers but we have to get better.”

The Lions (1-1) visit Rossville Academy (Tenn.), with an 0-2 record, this Friday night.

“We have to put this loss to Potts Camp behind us and get ready for Rossville,” Daniels said. “Hopefully, we can bounce back and get the win.”