Rabbs cage Lions with 34-8 victory

Atlanta hosted New Boston last Friday night with both teams entering the contest having won the week before.

These two teams have battled one another since 1925 and Atlanta had won the last six consecutive meetings until last season.

The Lions struck first but Atlanta put up 34 unanswered points to win the game 34-8.

First Quarter

The potent running attack by the Lions lasted all of one series as New Boston took the opening drive 55 yards in five plays for a score.

The 2-point play made the score 8-0 and that was the first and final time Atlanta’s defense would let the Lions cross the goal line.

The Rabbs answered on the kickoff as sophomore standout Markeylin Batton returned the kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

Juan Campos hit the point after and the Rabbs were down 8-7.

Atlanta’s defense set New Botson in a quick three-and-out and the Rabbs took over for its first offensive drive of the game after the punt.

Rabbit quarterback Peyton Harrison hit Stacy Darty on a swing pass for nine yards, Kam Dickerson for 15 and Jayden Riley for 12 on the drive but the Rabbs fumbled the ball away after nearing midfield.

The Lions ran out the clock in the first frame by moving from the Rabbit 42 to the 11.

Second Quarter

New Boston looked primed to score but the Rabbit defense had other ideas.

Big plays by Dim Limbrick, Howard, Henderson and Andrews eventually forced the Lions into trying a 23-yard field goal.

The kick sailed wide of the goal post and the Rabbs took over at the 20, Atlanta turned in nice runs by Batton (25 yards) and Darty (12 yards) on its next drive, and got within 13 yards of the goal line thanks to those runs and 30 yards of personal foul penalties by the Lions.

Unfortunately the Rabbs fumbled the ball away on first down from the 13.

Atlanta’s defense stood tall once again and forced New Boston into a punting situation after just four plays.

It only took one snap and one play for the Rabbs to hit paydirt again as Harrison connected with Riley on a 69-yard touchdown pass.

Campos hit the PAT and Atlanta was up 14-8. New Boston was forced into a quick three-andout by the Rabbit defense on its next drive and punted the ball away to Atlanta with time running down in the first half.

Darty takes the initial handoff 19 yards before Harrison connects with Ahmani Jackson on a 32yard strike to put the Rabbs within 10 yards of the endzone.

After a couple of negative yardage plays, Harrison took the ball in from 15 yards out on the QB keeper. The Rabbs’ 2-point try was no good but the lead was now 20-8.

The quarter ended with New Boston facing second down.

Third Quarter

Neither team could find its stride to open the third stanza as the two programs traded punts and possessions for a bit.

Later in the quarter the Lions attempted a fake punt run from its own 37-yard line but was stopped short of the first down.

From there Kam Dickerson galloped 37 yards for another Rabbit TD. Harrison hit Owens on the 2-point play and the Rabbs increased its lead to 28-8.

The quarter ended with New Boston on the move.

Fourth Quarter

The Lions were actually moving the ball to open the final quarter but an interception by Dim Limbrick put the ball back in the hands of the Rabbs at the 26.

Darty picked up 12 yards on the first play from scrimmage before Dickerson bolted into the endzone on a 62-yard run.

The PAT was no good but Atlanta had firm control with the score set at 34-8.

New Boston went on a 10-play drive which ate up plenty of clock time and ended with a turnover on fourth down. From there the Rabbs ran out the clock.

Peyton Harrison passed for 123 yards and a touchdown and also had a rushing TD, Kam Dickerson rushed for 95 yards and tallied two touchdowns, Stacy Darty rushed for 66 yards and Markeylin Batton added 23 plus an 85-yard kickoff return for a score.

Jayden Riley had 79 receiving yards total which included a long TD for 67 yards and Ahmani Jackson had 33 yards receiving.

Defensively, Xavier Nash and Ja’marion Owens each had 13 tackles, Russell Limbrick had 5.5 tackles for a loss and Dimoree Limbrick had an interception.

The Rabbs travel to Liberty-Eylau this Friday night to take on its longtime rival. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Photo by SAMANTHA WILBANKS

Atlanta’s Dim Limbrick wraps up a New Boston ball carrier with both Carmello Henderson and Xavier Nash closing in.