Atlanta loses contest at Liberty-Eylau

Atlanta and longtime rival Liberty-Eylau were in the same district in Class 4A once upon a time and although the Rabbs dropped into Class 3A a few years back, they kept the Leopards on the schedule.

After last season L-E dropped a classification and landed right in the middle of Atlanta’s district so the rivalry continued no matter what.

Last Friday night the Rabbs played the Leopards for the 60th time in the historic series between the two programs.

Since the 2003 season when Atlanta won state, L-E has won 16-of-21 meetings and now have a 32-28 series lead after topping the Rabbs 42-6 last Friday night.

First Quarter

The Leopards received the ball first at the 15-yard line to start the game but never made it past the 34 as Atlanta’s defense stood tall.

Atlanta on the other hand moved the ball with ease on its first drive as Markeylin Batton took the initial handoff and raced 75 yards for a touchdown.

The point after was no good but Atlanta was up 6-0 with 9:01 left in the first quarter.

After a nice kickoff return to midfield, the Leopards took no time in getting downfield for a score on just the third play of the drive.

The PAT was good and L-E was up 7-6 with 8:03 left in the first frame.

Atlanta moved the ball well with runs by Batton and Jayden Riley during the Rabbs’ next drive but the drive stalled and the Rabbits were forced to punt.

Peyton Harrison kicked a solid spiral and pinned the Leopards at the 3-yard line.

L-E never made it past the 8-yard line and had to punt the ball back to the Rabbs. Atlanta returned the favor a few plays later and the quarter ended with L-E moving the ball.

Second Quarter

The new quarter opened with the Leopards scoring on a 10-play, 87-yard drive. After the PAT L-E was up 14-6 with 9:50 left in the first half.

After trading possessions once more, the Rabbs started a drive that spanned the rest of the quarter.

Starting at their own 24, Marshawn Woodberry and Riley got things going with a solid rushing game before Harrison hit Sye Stroman for eight yards, Batton for 17 and Riley for 29 to move the ball within 10 yards of the goal line.

After a couple of incomplete passes the Rabbs attempted a 28-yard field goal but missed the opportunity as time expired.

Third Quarter

A solid kickoff return by Jamarion Austin set the Rabbs up at the L-E 44 to open the second half of play.

From there Batton picked up 23 yards on four carries but the drive stalled after the Leopard defense stopped Atlanta on fourth-and-short.

L-E scored after just three plays which spanned 78 yards. The PAT was good and the Leopards were up 21-6 with 8:03 left in the quarter.

Austin was on fire again as he galloped into Leopard country on the kickoff return down to the 18.

Atlanta desperately needed a score but after a short run and three incomplete passes the Rabbs turned the ball over on downs.

The teams would trade possessions again for most of the quarter until L-E scored again at the one-minute mark.

The successful PAT increased the score to 28-6.

All throughout the game the Rabbits were able to move the ball but couldn’t capitalize.

The quarter ended with Harrison connecting with Braylin Rowe for 11 yards.

Fourth Quarter

The final frame opened with a penalty against the Rabbits but Harrison erased that with two consecutive passes to Riley; one for 14 yards and one for 15.

A solid pass to Chris Whaley for 29 yards and Rowe again for 15 yards set the Rabbs up at the L-E 15, but the drive died after Harrison tried to stretch for a first down on fourth down and was denied one-yard short.

The Leopards scored twice more before the end of the contest and won the game 42-6.

Harrison tossed for 127 yards, Batton rushed for 103 and a TD, Woodberry added 31 rushing yards and Riley had 61 receiving yards.

Defensively, Riley had 12 tackles with 10 of those solo, Landon Johnson added seven, Eli Mitchell six, Harrison six and Dailen Collins five.

Atlanta (5-3, 2-2) hosts Tatum (4-2, 2-1) this Friday night Oct. 25, with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.