Rabbits keep playoff hopes alive with 40-20 win over Lions

Atlanta kept its playoff hopes alive with a 40-20 win over New Boston last Friday night.

The Rabbs had a 15-point lead at the break and didn’t panic when New Boston pulled within seven.

In a must-win situation the Rabbits put together sustaining drives and also scored quickly in some situations.

First Quarter

The Rabbits won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball first.

The drive opened at the Rabbits’ 42-yard line and running back Caleb Hamilton promptly took the ball 26 yards down to the Lions’ 32-yard line on the first play from scrimmage.

On the following play running back Keith Kinney bolted into the endzone for a 32-yard touchdown.

Daniel Hernandez nailed the point after and the Rabbs were up 7-0 with just 29 seconds ran off the game clock.

Atlanta’s defense was on tap for the first set of downs for New Boston as Logan Shelton and Matthew Cauley got to the ball carrier quickly.

On the Lions’ fifth play of the drive Jackson Warren intercepted a pass with 9:26 left in the first quarter of play.

Working from the New Boston 48 Kinney and Hamilton went to work.

Aside from a personal foul penalty by New Boston, Kinney racked up 21 yards on the drive and Hamilton added 15.

The drive ended when Hamilton galloped into the endzone from eight yards out.

Hernandez hit the PAT and Atlanta had a firm 14-0 lead with 7:37 left in the opening frame.

New Boston had a quick three-and-out on its next drive and had to punt the ball back to the Rabbs.

Working from the Rabbit 42 Kinney took the initial handoff eight yards to midfield.

Quarterback Justin “Catfish” Pierce connected with Hamilton for a 35-yard pickup and the Rabbs were in business at the New Boston 15.

A couple of short runs, an incomplete pass and a holding call killed the drive and Hernandez came on to attempt a 38-yard field goal at the four minute mark. Hernandez put enough leg into the kick to get the

Hernandez put enough leg into the kick to get the ball to the goal post. Unfortunately the 15 mile per hour wind pushed the ball right and it caromed off the right post.

New Boston had trouble moving the ball against the Rabbs on its next drive, and after a solid sack by Shelton on the fourth play of the drive Cauley intercepted a pass.

Kameron Dickerson lined up at QB in the “wildcat” formation on the Rabbs’ next drive, and swiftly ran the ball into the endzone on a 34-yard jaunt.

Hernandez hit the PAT and Atlanta was up 21-0 with 34 seconds left in the first quarter.

The opening quarter ended with New Boston pulling off a big run into Rabbit territory.

Second Quarter

The Lions opened the second stanza at the Rabbit 25 and five plays later scored its first touchdown of the night.

The 2-point play was no good and the score stood at 21-6 with eight minutes left in the first half.

Atlanta’s next drive started at the 38-yard line.

Hamilton picked up 11 yards on two runs but penalties pushed the Rabbits backwards.

On the fourth play of the drive Dickerson once again lined up in the “wildcat” formation.

After the ball was snapped Dickerson looked for a route to take but all lanes were closed by the Lions’ defense.

Dickerson reversed field a couple of times and seemed to drift further back.

Just as New Boston closed in for a sack Dickerson passed the ball to a wide open Matthew Cauley who ran into the endzone untouched.

Unfortunately another penalty against Atlanta negated the score.

The drive ended with Cooper McClure punting the ball away at the 6:24 mark.

New Boston scored on its next drive but failed to convert the 2-point play.

Atlanta had a 21-12 lead with 3:59 left in the half.

A pooch kick by New Boston put the Rabbs in good field position at the 47.

Hamilton took the first handoff 14 yards and Kinney followed that up with a 16-yard run of his own.

Kinney added a 6-yard run before Hamilton bolted into the endzone from 23 yards out.

The PAT was no good but the Rabbs were up 27-12 with 1:39 left in the first half. After a quick three-and-out by New Boston the

After a quick three-and-out by New Boston the Rabbits let time run out on its next drive.

Third Quarter

The Lions received the ball to begin the second half.

New Boston took nearly six minutes off the clock on a 75-yard drive which ended with a touchdown.

The 2-point play was successful and New Boston closed the gap with the score showing 27-20.

Atlanta put an equally impressive drive together as it knocked off near six minutes off the clock.

A steady dose of Kinney and Hamilton took the ball from the 46 to the 2-yard line.

The drive was capped off on a 2-yard TD by Kinney with 58 seconds left in the quarter.

The wind affected the PAT again but the Rabbs increased its lead to 33-20.

Fourth Quarter

The Lions attempted a comeback but it was cut short early with sacks by DK Parker and Tyrell King plus hard tackles from Trey Adams, Ashton Harper and Malachi Darty.

Atlanta stopped New Boston on fourth down at the 7:32 mark and took over at the 36.

From the 36, Kinney racked up 27 yards on four carries and Hamilton pulled off a couple of runs with one of those being a 32-yard touchdown run.

The PAT was good and Atlanta increased its lead to 40-20 with 3:40 left in the game. New Boston went out on four downs and Atlanta

New Boston went out on four downs and Atlanta kneeled on the ball to run the clock out.

The Rabbs had 324 rushing yards and 34 passing yards.

Kinney posted 147 yards rushing with two scores, Hamilton added 137 yards with three touchdowns and Dickerson had 38 yards rushing with a score.

Defensively Shelton led the way with 14 tackles, King and Jordan Stiger had 10 each, Isaiah Henderson and Cauley posted nine apiece and Dickerson had seven.

The Rabbs have a BYE week this Friday night but host Jefferson on Senior Night Nov. 6, with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m.