Lions start season with a win

Football team beats Metro Phoenix

Friday, March 26, 2010

The Charles County Lions started its third season last Saturday at McKinley Tech in Washington, D.C., where it took on a first-year team, the Metro Phoenix.

The Lions were a bit shaky after a difficult preseason of dealing with practicing in two feet of snow and very wet fields when the snow finally melted.

Scrimmages were canceled so the Lions took the field having not tried any of their game against an opponent. It turned out well for the Lions, winning the game, 29-6, and they saw the areas that really needed work.

The Lion's scored on their first three possessions, first with a 55-yard rushing drive down the field by quarterback Travis Savoy and running back DeJuan Butler. Clyde Jones ran the final three yards for the touchdown.

On first down of the Lions' second possession, Savoy threw a 46-yard pass to Greg Bowman, who ran it the final 20 yards for the Lions second touchdown.

Lions running backs Zack Lohr and Dwight Savoy worked together with Travis Savoy on the third possession to put together an 86-yard drive down the field for the Lions' third touchdown. Lohr had a 40-yard run on that drive. The Metro Phoenix defense stopped the Lions on the 21-yard line to end the half.

On the Phoenix's second possession of the second half, tailback, Michael Wilson ran the ball 73 yards for their only score of the day.

The Lions answered immediately when quarterback Matthew Boltz handed the ball off to Butler, who ran the ball 77 yards for the team's final touchdown of the day.

In the fourth quarter, the Phoenix were going to punt, but a bad snap sent them scrambling for the ball, which they picked, but pressure from the Lions defense drove him out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

On the next Lions possession, on fourth down and 24 after a holding penalty, they punted the ball back to the Phoenix.

The Phoenix picked it up, but pursuit by the Lions defense chased the returner into the end zone where Thomas Connally took him down for the second safety in the game.

The Lion's offense had 386 total yards, 290 rushing and only 96 passing in the win.

The Lions defense held the Phoenix to only six points and 97 yards for the game.

Standouts were Bruce Yates with 10 tackles, two for loss and two sacks, while Jones had six tackles, two for loss and Justin Kelly finished with a blocked punt, six tackles and two sacks.

The Lion's will take on the St. Mary's Country Warriors at 2 p.m. Saturday at The Lion's Den, Chaney Field, 12500 Sub-Station Road in Waldorf.

This will also be the debut for a new addition to the Lions family, The Lady Lions, the Lions dance and cheer team.

The entire Lions organization will be at St. Charles Towne Center from 1 to 4 p.m. April 11. The Lady Lions will also be performing.