Post by lionsroar on Mar 23, 2008 8:40:46 GMT -5
Subbing for injured quarterback Joey Conrad in the second half, Maurice Mullins led the Columbus Lions back within striking distance Saturday night.
But a pair of crucial fourth-quarter mistakes by the rookie quarterback gave Erie just enough breathing room to hold on for a 54-48 win at the Columbus Civic Center.
The Lions (1-1) were having difficulty hanging with Erie's explosive offense even when Conrad was healthy. With him sitting out the second half with his left arm in a sling, the Lions rallied behind Mullins before he lost a pair of fumbles -- one of which went for an 8-yard touchdown by Densville Saunders -- that ended the Columbus comeback.
The River Rats offense had its way against Columbus for much of the night, but the Lions forced turnovers on each of Erie's final two possessions to give Mullins and the offense a chance.
Inside the final minute, Mullins dropped back to pass, only to have the ball slip out of his hand on consecutive plays. The Lions recovered the first, but on third-and-16 from his 19, Mullins again lost the ball and a pair of River Rats defenders fell on it to secure a narrow win.
The late turnovers ruined what had been a valiant effort by Mullins, who was 11-for-18 for 122 yards and three touchdowns in the second half. His 30-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Gales with 2:43 left cut the Erie lead to six points.
That gave Columbus the chance to drive for the winning score when Cedric Ware followed it by intercepting Erie quarterback Jarrod Highberger and returning it to midfield on the ensuing possession.
Highberger had an efficient night until Ware's interception, completing 14 of 30 passes for 196 yards, five touchdowns -- three to Brandon Jackson and two to Darmel Whitfield -- and two interceptions.
Conrad was 11-for-22 for 106 yards, passing for one touchdown and running for another before injuring his arm late in the second quarter.
Neither team's defense was able to do much to stop its opponent in a penalty-filled first quarter. Highberger gave Erie (3-0) a 14-7 first-quarter lead with a pair of touchdown passes to Whitfield, covering 12 and 27 yards.
The Lions hung with them, scoring on Joey Conrad's 2-yard run and a 13-yard pass from Conrad to Silas Daniels minutes into the second to tie the score at 14. Columbus then held on defense and took its only lead of the night, 17-14, when Wes Wilson drilled a 30-yard field goal.
But Erie controlled the final five minutes of the half, regaining the lead on the next play from scrimmage with a 25-yard Highberger pass to Brandon Jackson and following that with an interception return for a touchdown by Jovon Johnson.
BY DAVID CHING - dching@ledger-enquirer.com --
www.ledger-enquirer.com/sports/story/278545.html
But a pair of crucial fourth-quarter mistakes by the rookie quarterback gave Erie just enough breathing room to hold on for a 54-48 win at the Columbus Civic Center.
The Lions (1-1) were having difficulty hanging with Erie's explosive offense even when Conrad was healthy. With him sitting out the second half with his left arm in a sling, the Lions rallied behind Mullins before he lost a pair of fumbles -- one of which went for an 8-yard touchdown by Densville Saunders -- that ended the Columbus comeback.
The River Rats offense had its way against Columbus for much of the night, but the Lions forced turnovers on each of Erie's final two possessions to give Mullins and the offense a chance.
Inside the final minute, Mullins dropped back to pass, only to have the ball slip out of his hand on consecutive plays. The Lions recovered the first, but on third-and-16 from his 19, Mullins again lost the ball and a pair of River Rats defenders fell on it to secure a narrow win.
The late turnovers ruined what had been a valiant effort by Mullins, who was 11-for-18 for 122 yards and three touchdowns in the second half. His 30-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Gales with 2:43 left cut the Erie lead to six points.
That gave Columbus the chance to drive for the winning score when Cedric Ware followed it by intercepting Erie quarterback Jarrod Highberger and returning it to midfield on the ensuing possession.
Highberger had an efficient night until Ware's interception, completing 14 of 30 passes for 196 yards, five touchdowns -- three to Brandon Jackson and two to Darmel Whitfield -- and two interceptions.
Conrad was 11-for-22 for 106 yards, passing for one touchdown and running for another before injuring his arm late in the second quarter.
Neither team's defense was able to do much to stop its opponent in a penalty-filled first quarter. Highberger gave Erie (3-0) a 14-7 first-quarter lead with a pair of touchdown passes to Whitfield, covering 12 and 27 yards.
The Lions hung with them, scoring on Joey Conrad's 2-yard run and a 13-yard pass from Conrad to Silas Daniels minutes into the second to tie the score at 14. Columbus then held on defense and took its only lead of the night, 17-14, when Wes Wilson drilled a 30-yard field goal.
But Erie controlled the final five minutes of the half, regaining the lead on the next play from scrimmage with a 25-yard Highberger pass to Brandon Jackson and following that with an interception return for a touchdown by Jovon Johnson.
BY DAVID CHING - dching@ledger-enquirer.com --
www.ledger-enquirer.com/sports/story/278545.html