Atlanta Rabbits thrash Mount Vernon Tigers, 60-17

Atlanta made the long drive out to play Mount Vernon last Friday night at Don Meredith Stadium.

The Tigers were winless going into the contest and were still winless when Atlanta left town with a big 60-17 victory.

First Quarter

Mount Vernon won the coin toss but deferred to the second half.

Atlanta started off the game with a bang as Markeylin Batton picked up five yards on the ground followed by a 16-yard pass play from Peyton Harrison to CJ Whaley.

After a 5-yard penalty against the Rabbs, Harrison hits Batton on a swing pass and Batton rumbles 59 yards for a score.

CJ Whaley hits the point after and the Rabbs go up 7-0 with 11:01 left in the first quarter.

Mount Vernon answered on its first drive of the contest as the Tigers went 71 yards in nine plays, and after the PAT the game was tied at 7-all with 8:20 left in the first frame.

Atlanta put together another 75-yard touchdown drive on its next set of downs as Harrison started the set with a 15-yard run.

Harrison connected with Riley for seven yards on the next play, Jamarion Austin picked up 11 yards on the ground and the drive ended on a 42-yard TD run out of the wildcat by Riley.

Whaley hit the PAT and the score was 14-7 with 7:12 left on the clock.

Wesley Stewart came up big for the Rabbit defense on its next drive as he knocked the ball loose from a Tiger ball carrier on a second-down run and Atlanta recovered.

Atlanta took over with great field position at the Mount Vernon 24-yard line and on the first snap Batton picked up 12 yards.

Harrison hit Riley for a short 2-yard gain before connecting with Whaley on a 10-yard touchdown pass play.

Whaley hit the PAT and Atlanta extended its lead to 21-7 with 4:49 left in the first quarter.

Mount Vernon worked its way into a quick threeand- out and after a bad punt the Rabbs were back in business at the Tiger 30.

Harrison hit DC Range for 11, Marshawn Woodberry picked up a yard and Harrison hit Riley for an 18-yard score.

The PAT was no good but Atlanta was up 27-7 with 1:05 left on the clock.

The quarter ended with the Tigers running the ball.

Second Quarter

Atlanta’s defense stood tall and forced another Mount Vernon punt just a few plays into the new stanza.

Another bad punt set up Atlanta with good field position at its own 43.

Batton picked up a nice run for the Rabbs but a penalty negated the nice gain.

Harrison picked up the five yards taken away by the penalty on the next play before hitting Riley on a nice 57-yard touchdown pass.

The PAT was no good but Atlanta increased its lead to 33-7 with 9:47 left in the first half.

Another three-and-out forced the Tigers to punt the ball back to Atlanta.

The Rabbits scored on every one of its drives to this point and that wasn’t about to change on the next set as Atlanta went 59 yards in just two plays for another score.

On the drive, Harrison hit Riley for 20 yards and Austin galloped 39 yards for a touchdown with 8:24 left in the second quarter.

The PAT was no good but Atlanta was in control at 39-7.

Mount Vernon wasn’t having much success moving the ball on its next drive and the set ended with Sye Stroman picking off a pass.

One snap and one play later, Batton streaks for a 69-yard TD.

Whaley split the uprights and Atlanta increased its lead to 46-7 with 5:24 left on the clock.

The Tigers ate up nearly five minutes on its next drive and ended its set with a 25-yard field goal.

Atlanta’s lead was cut to just 46-10 with 37 seconds left in the first half.

The quarter ended with a big 26-yard run by Harrison.

Third Quarter

Mount Vernon’s night went from bad to worse as they fumbled the ball away on its first drive of the second half.

Atlanta scored on a screen pass and after the PAT the Rabbs went up 53-10.

Mount Vernon went three-and-out quickly on its next drive and punted the ball away.

One play, one snap and Batton bolted for a 53-yard TD on the Rabbs’ next drive.

Whaley hit the PAT and Atlanta was up 60-10 with 9:13 left in the third quarter.

Mount Vernon ran a 12-play, 9-minute drive to end the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

With the clock running, the Tigers ended up turning the ball over at the 8:08 mark after a 17-drive set.

Atlanta played a ton of underclassmen for the rest of the game as the Rabbs went on to win 60-17.

Nice defensive plays throughout the game by Stroman, Kheaton Kinney, Zamarian Ivery, Dailen Collins, Stewart, Kayden Linwood, Landon Johnson, TJ Rainey, Kam Williams, Taiwon Henderson and Drae Simmons kept the Tigers off balance.

The Rabbits celebrate Homecoming this Friday night, Sept. 27, against White Oak. Kickoff for their first district game is at 7 p.m.