Ground game lifts Lions to win at Rossville

H.W. Byers rushed for more than 400 yards Friday night, and that translated into its second win to start the season.

Coach Chris Daniels’ team traveled a short distance across the state line and turned back Rossville Christian Academy, Tenn., 36-28.

The Lions ran the football 30 times for 403 yards.

“If you get 400 yards rushing, somebody is doing something right,” Daniels said. “We had to run the football, and we did it successfully. Give credit to the offensive line.”

Vincent Talley led the way with 16 carries for 209 yards, while Devin Moore followed with six carries for 108.

The Lions used a passing play for their first points. Moore, who moved to quarterback with Michael James in COVID-19 quarantine, connected with Jabarri Wright for a 75-yard score. After a penalty, Moore threw to Talley for a 17-yard two-point conversion.

In the second quarter, Talley broke loose for an 85-yard touchdown run. Chris Isom cashed in the two-point conversion. It was 16-0 at halftime.

Moore scored on a 29-yard keeper in the third. The conversion try was not successful. The lead was 22-6.

The Lions added a pair of fourth-quarter scores, the first a 12-yard run by Isom and the next a 65-yard kickoff return by Wright. Talley ran for the two-pointer after Wright’s touchdown.

The Lions gave up 28 second-half points, which caused Coach Daniels to see some certain room for improvement.

“We have to do a better job defensively coming out after the half,” he said.

“We had a bunch of penalties after halftime, and that hurt us. We had them stopped once and got a pass interference call on fourth down.

“It was like we came out the second half thinking the game was over, and it was a long way from being over. I guess we thought they would lay down, and they didn’t.”

Daniels said not having his starting quarterback limited the Lions in the passing game and forced them to run more.

The Lions were four of eight through the air for 93 yards.

“We really ran it well,” he said. “We should have controlled the clock more, but a lot of our touchdowns came on big plays. That’s a good thing and a bad thing.”

Talley led the Byers defense with 14 tackles.

Three other starters were also out for the game.

“Us having four out is like having eight out — they play both ways (offense and defense),” Daniels said.

The Lions (2-0) travel to Coldwater this Friday night. The Cougars (0-2) lost 40-8 to Potts Camp last week.

“It will be a typical Coldwater team — athletic and fast,” Daniels said. “We should get our kids back from quarantine, and that will help us a lot. We need to take control of the game early.”

Region 1-1A competition starts the following week versus Okolona at home September 24.