Atlanta falls in district contest against Gladewate

Atlanta rebounded in game two of district play and picked up its first win of the season with a victory over Sabine.

Arguably the toughest district test was against Gladewater last Friday night.

The Rabbits were down by just one point at the half, but the Bears made adjustments during the break and went on to win the game 42-27 over the Rabbs.

First Quarter

The welcome sight of running back Keith Kinney has been just what the Rabbs needed.

Kinney made his first appearance against Sabine two weeks ago and had an exceptionally good game.

In this contest he took a brunt of the carries on the first drive of the game and picked up 34 yards on four running plays.

Kameron Dickerson also carried the ball on a play for five yards, but a stout stand by Gladewater forced the Rabbits to punt the ball away after a 9-play, 35-yard drive.

The Bears scored on its first drive by marching 82 yards in nine plays and after the PAT led 7-0 with 3:50 left in the first quarter.

The Rabbits began its next drive from near midfield at the 48.

Rabbit quarterback Justin “Catfish” Pierce tucked the ball on the first snap and gained three yards.

Kinney had back-to-back carries of seven and eight yards respectively before Kartrez Andrews picked up four yards.

From the 30-yard line Pierce connected with Dickerson for the Rabbs’ first score of the game.

Daniel Hernandez hit the point after and the score was knotted at 7-7 with 37 seconds left in the first frame.

Gladewater ran one play before the quarter ended.

Second Quarter

The Bears were stifled by Atlanta’s potent defense on the next drive and three incomplete passes forced a turnover on downs at the 10-minute mark.

Atlanta looked to take the lead on its next drive after Kinney broke loose and bolted 51 yards down the field.

Unfortunately, a dreaded holding call negated the positive yardage.

Andrews picked up 15 of the needed 20 yards on third down but the Rabbs punted the ball away on fourth down with 8:20 left in the first half.

It didn’t take Gladewater long to get back across the goal line as the Bears scored on a bubble screen at the 6:50 mark.

The PAT boosted the score to 14-7.

The Rabbs answered in fine fashion as they put together an 8-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown on its next set of plays.

Staring from the 25, Andrews picked up 16 yards on two carries.

Dickerson picked up three yards on the third snap and that was followed by Kinney picking up 16 yards of his own.

Pierce hit Dickerson again for a 29- yard pickup which set the Rabbs up at the Bears’ 11-yard line.

Andrews took the ball down to the five on the very next play and from there Kinney snuck into the endzone for his first TD of the night.

Hernandez hit the PAT and the score was tied at 14-all with 2:54 left in the second quarter.

The Bears scored again on a long touchdown with 1:21 showing on the clock, and after the PAT held on to a 21-14 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff speedy Alijuah Drayton nearly broke a run into the endzone but was pushed out of bounds at the Gladewater 18.

A steady dose of Kinney and Andrews moved the ball as close as the seven, but a stout stand by the Bears’ large defensive front forced the Rabbs into a field goal try.

Hernandez nailed the 24-yard attempt and pulled the Rabbs within four with the score set at 21-17.

On the pooch kick by Hernandez the ball caromed off a Bear player and Jackson Warren fell on it.

Pierce hit Terunte Neal on a 9-yard pass play but that’s all the Rabbs would get.

With time running out Hernandez hit a 33-yard field goal and brought the Rabbs within one with the score set at 21-20.

Third Quarter

No matter the score hard hits by DK Parker, Logan Shelton, Lakeceion Matthews, Trey Adams, Isaiah Henderson and Neal kept the Bears honest.

Gladewater received the ball to start the second half and had good field position at the Rabbit 48 after the return.

The Bears scored in seven plays.

After the PAT Gladewater led 28-20 with 9:45 left in the third quarter.

Atlanta punted on its next drive and the Bears took over at the Atlanta 42.

A big run set up a 4-yard score at the 8:17 mark.

The PAT put Gladewater ahead 35-20. The two teams traded possessions until the Rabbits scored on a 44-yard strike from Pierce to Matthew Cauley.

Hernandez knocked down the PAT and the Rabbs pulled closer at 35-27 with 2:52 left in the third stanza.

Gladewater scored once more before the final buzzer to put the score at 42-27.

The quarter ended with Pierce connecting with Cauley for 15 yards.

Fourth Quarter

The Rabbs had a nice drive cooking but an interception at the 8:22 mark was the proverbial nail in the coffin.

Gladewater ran out time by playing small ball as the Bears ate up more than eight minutes worth of clock in a little over 60 yards in 14 plays.

Pierce had 140 yards passing on the night with two touchdowns, Kinney posted 95 yards and a score, Dickerson added 68 yards receiving with a TD, Cauley had 69 yards receiving with a touchdown and Hernandez was 3-for-3 on XP and 2-for-2 on field goals.

The Rabbits host Tatum this Friday night with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.