Rabbits top Yellowjackets, 27-2, in first game

Atlanta kicked off its 2022 football season last Friday night at home against Elysian Fields.

After getting over the occasional first-game jitters, the Rabbit defense turned in a stellar performance and the offense settled in as the Rabbs won the contest 27-2.

First Quarter

The Yellowjackets won the toss but deferred to the second half.

Atlanta’s first drive of the season was a quick threeand- out, followed by a quick three-and-out for Elysian Fields which began with a solid defensive play by Isaiah “Ike” Chandler.

A drive or two later the Rabbit offense turned a corner.

Mind you a young offensive line, a sophomore quarterback and a new playbook is going to take more than one game to come together but this drive was one indication of what can be expected.

Senior running back Stacy Darty handled the first two carries of the next drive and gained 11 yards before quarterback Peyton Harrison hit freshman receiver Jayden Riley for a 5-yard pickup.

Kameron Dickerson took the next two carries 14 yards to midfield, and then Harrison connected with Riley again for six yards.

A play later Harrison hit sophomore Markeylin Batton who turned on the jets and sprinted 44 yards to paydirt.

Alan Morales attempted the point after but it was blocked and nearly returned for some points.

Nonetheless, Atlanta was up 6-0 with 1:10 left in the first frame.

The quarter ended with Elysian Fields getting into Rabbit country and netting a first down.

Second Quarter

The Yellowjackets ate up a ton of minutes off of the clock on its next drive as they took the ball from its own 40 to the Rabbit 4-yard line.

In three plays from the 4-yard line Elysian Fields netted -5 yards after big plays by Russell Limbrick and Xavier Nash.

The stout stand by the Rabbit defense put Elysian Fields into attempting a 26-yard field goal.

The field goal was no good but on the ensuing drive for the Rabbs the ball was fumbled and the Yellowjackets had great field position from the Rabbit 33.

On the second play of the drive Limbrick picked off a pass and returned it for a pick-6 touchdwon, but a penalty against the Rabbs negated the score.

Atlanta’s defense stood tall once again and forced a turnover on fourth down with 4:39 left in the half.

The Rabbs’ next drive started with Harrison passing to Chandler for 16 yards followed by an 8-yard connection to Riley.

A penalty and a couple of runs for loss resulted in a punt with time running down.

Elysian Fields couldn’t muster a good drive on its next attempt and had to punt the ball away with 53 seconds left in the first half.

The Yellowjacket punter pinned the Rabbs at the 8-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage an errant snap went over the head of the Rabbit QB and a few seconds later Harrison’s foot went out of bounds in the back of the endzone for a safety.

The score was 6-2 with 38 seconds showing on the clock andf the Rabbs had to kickoff to Elysian Fields.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Yellowjacket return man was hit and the ball came loose.

Riley scooped up the ball and bolted into the endzone from 60 yards for a touchdown.

Darty ran in the 2-point try and the Rabbs were up 14-2 with 24 seconds left in the second stanza.

The half ended with Elysian Fields moving the ball ona nice pass play.

Third Quarter

Elysian Fields received the ball to begin the second half but nice stops from Nash, Limbrick, Jalarion Andrews, Brenden Clayton and Carmello Henderson put the Yellowjacket offense on the sideline after just three plays.

Atlanta put together a nice drive on its next possession.

Darty gained 14 yards on the ground, Harrison five, Dickerson five and Harrison hit Will Woodruff for 22 yards, but the Rabbs had to attempt a field goal later in the drive.

The field goal attempt was no good and Elysian Fields took over at its own 7-yard line.

A quick three-and-out put the Yellowjackets in punt formation and Riley returned the ball 32 yards to the Elysian Fields’ 4-yard line.

Darty took the ball down to the 2-yard line and from there Harrison scored a TD.

Morales hit the PAT and the Rabbs were up 21-2 with 34 seconds left in the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

The fourth frame opened with the Yellowjackets punting the ball away.

Atlanta put together an impressive drive which started at its own 16-yard line. Dickerson took the handoff 84 yards for a score but a spot-foul penalty was called on the Rabbits which put Atlanta at the Yellowjackets’ 45.

The drive ended with a 29-yard run by Batton for a score with 7:21 left in the game.

The PAT was no good but Atlanta was up 27-2 and in good command of the contest.

Nice defensive plays by Jaymari Howard, Nash, Jamarion Austin and Dickerson kept the Yellowjackets’ on its heels.

Atlanta kneeled on the ball and secured its first victory of the season for new Head Coach Tyler Morton and the coaching staff, and ended an 11-game losing streak in the process.

Harrison was 10-of-15 with 110 yards passing and a TD, Dickerson had 53 yards rushing and Batton had 35 yards rushing with a TD and 44 yards receiving with a TD.

The Rabbs travel to Redwater this Friday with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

Atlanta QB Peyton Harrison hands the ball off to Stacy Darty during the Rabbs 27-2 win over Elysian Fields.