Charles County Lions shut out Cowboys

Friday, April 18, 2008

After the previous week’s amazing win over the second-place Punishers, the Lions took the field with confidence.

Although the score was 55-0, the game was played with much heart on both sides of the ball, and the Cowboys did not give up and played until the last minute. Both the Lions and the Cowboys are first-year teams and share the struggles associated with establishing themselves as a real presence in the Diamond Football League.

In the first quarter, the Lions defense forced the Cowboys to punt. Then, the offense drove down the field for a touchdown, with a 28 yard pass from Tyler McConnell to Greg Bowman. Next, Dante Page ran back an interception for a touchdown.

The Lions again drove down the field as McConnell threw to Stephen Nutter for the third touchdown of the quarter, bringing the score to 21-0.

The second quarter brought much of the same, with a touchdown pass from McConnell to Bowman on the Lions first possession of the period.

The Cowboys then fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Cedric Thomas, and Allen Spriggs, who had been out with an injury, took the field as quarterback.

The Lions’ drive ended with a touchdown pass from Spriggs to Nutter. At the half, the Lions led, 34-0.

The Cowboys kicked to the Lions to start the second half, and the Lions drove down the field and scored again when McConnell passed the ball to Travis Savoy, who then passed to Curtis Harris for the touchdown.

The Lions scored on their next possession with a 15-yard run by Travis McConnell. Dennis Williamson recovered a Cowboys fumble and the Lions took over at the Cowboys’ 10-yard line. The Lions scored a touchdown ran in by Brandon Watson.

The Lions offensive line performed well all day. T.J. Riley, Chris Adams, Fidel Rivers, Jay Bonds and center Stephen Deavers constructed a wall that the Cowboys just couldn’t get around.

The Lions defense would not allow the Cowboys to move the ball in the air or on the ground, and held them to under 50 yards total offense.

Standouts include Terry Barnes, Averill Butler, Aaron Carbaugh, Rashard Clark, Ricky Felton, Donald Knight, Mitchell Lewis, Earl Monroe, Brandon Reece, Devonte Williams, Joe Williamson and Rashad Yarborough.

The second half of the game was overshadowed some by the news that Madison M. ‘‘Buzz” Nutter, Stephen’s grandfather, had passed away. ‘‘Buzz” Nutter had played for the Baltimore Colts and was Johnny Unitas’ center.

The team prayed for the family and Stephen at halftime and dedicated the second half to his memory. Stephen had an outstanding game, scoring for the first time this season with two touchdowns for the team.

The Lions are now in second place in the Diamond Football League’s Mid-Atlantic division behind the South Jersey (Gloucester County) Generals.

The Generals are now ranked No. 2 in the nation according to the Minor League Football News national rankings, this after they dealt a stunning blow to the Sussex County Punishers on April 12, 45-12.

The Punishers are the first to score on the Generals this year. The Lions are now ranked No. 16 in the nation and the Punishers have dropped to No. 29.

The Lions face a grueling final two weeks of the regular season as they go on the road to play the Jersey Shore Bullsharks and the South Jersey Generals.

The Bullsharks have a 3-3 record and will definitely give the Lions a fight to the end, with a playoff position at stake.

The Generals, who are undefeated but have now been scored upon, will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge the Lions have faced all year.