Post by lionsroar on Mar 29, 2008 7:00:45 GMT -5
Mullins, Lions dominate Mariners
BY TODD KARPOVICH
BALTIMORE --Mullins passes for 239 yards in Conrad's absence
In his first start for the Columbus Lions, rookie quarterback Maurice Mullins spoiled the Baltimore Mariners' inaugural home-opener Friday night by passing for four touchdowns and running for two scores.
The Lions (2-1) scored early and often en route to a dominant 67-39 victory. Mullins, who is subbing for the injured Joey Conrad, completed 22 of 34 passes for 239 yards and one interception. The Lions' defense gave up some big plays, but still held the Mariners to 189 of total offense and forced five turnovers.
Gerald Gales led the Lions' receiving corp with nine catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. The Lions had 21 first downs, compared to 12 for Baltimore. Columbus also scored in four of its five trips to the red zone.
Mullins set an early tone by scoring on a 1-yard run in the game's first possession. Elbert Shumake increased the lead to 14-0 when he picked up a fumble by Mariners' quarterback Dixie Wooten and ran 14 yards for the score.
Mullins not only hurt Baltimore with his precision, he also escaped several sacks by twisting out of the defenders' grasp and throwing the ball safely away. He also kept the Baltimore defense off-balance by mixing his long throws with some intermediate passes.
Baltimore (1-2) began to settle down midway through the first quarter and got on the board when Wooten found Richard Johnson on a 30-yard pass with five minutes left in the quarter to cut the score to 14-7. That got the fans back into the game.
Wooten threw for three scores in the second quarter and Mullins had two touchdowns as the Lions led 36-25 at the half. While the Mariners confidence grew with the late first-half score, it was the Lions who made necessary halftime adjustments to put the game out of reach.
Mullins ran for his second score of the game on the opening drive of the third quarter to increase the lead to 18. Mullins struck again four minutes later with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Silas Daniels that silenced the Baltimore crowd.
Baltimore replaced Wooten with Mike Orihel after that touchdown, and Keon Newson greeted him with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final seconds of the third quarter. Justin Rivers added to Baltimore's misery when he picked off another Orihel pass and returned it 40 yards for another Lions score.
The dismantling of Baltimore should give the Lions some extra swagger going into their game against the Carolina Speed next Saturday.
Conrad is expected to return for the Lions' next game, but Mullins play has given coaches confidence with both of their quarterbacks in the early part of the season.
www.ledger-enquirer.com/293/story/283341.html
BY TODD KARPOVICH
BALTIMORE --Mullins passes for 239 yards in Conrad's absence
In his first start for the Columbus Lions, rookie quarterback Maurice Mullins spoiled the Baltimore Mariners' inaugural home-opener Friday night by passing for four touchdowns and running for two scores.
The Lions (2-1) scored early and often en route to a dominant 67-39 victory. Mullins, who is subbing for the injured Joey Conrad, completed 22 of 34 passes for 239 yards and one interception. The Lions' defense gave up some big plays, but still held the Mariners to 189 of total offense and forced five turnovers.
Gerald Gales led the Lions' receiving corp with nine catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. The Lions had 21 first downs, compared to 12 for Baltimore. Columbus also scored in four of its five trips to the red zone.
Mullins set an early tone by scoring on a 1-yard run in the game's first possession. Elbert Shumake increased the lead to 14-0 when he picked up a fumble by Mariners' quarterback Dixie Wooten and ran 14 yards for the score.
Mullins not only hurt Baltimore with his precision, he also escaped several sacks by twisting out of the defenders' grasp and throwing the ball safely away. He also kept the Baltimore defense off-balance by mixing his long throws with some intermediate passes.
Baltimore (1-2) began to settle down midway through the first quarter and got on the board when Wooten found Richard Johnson on a 30-yard pass with five minutes left in the quarter to cut the score to 14-7. That got the fans back into the game.
Wooten threw for three scores in the second quarter and Mullins had two touchdowns as the Lions led 36-25 at the half. While the Mariners confidence grew with the late first-half score, it was the Lions who made necessary halftime adjustments to put the game out of reach.
Mullins ran for his second score of the game on the opening drive of the third quarter to increase the lead to 18. Mullins struck again four minutes later with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Silas Daniels that silenced the Baltimore crowd.
Baltimore replaced Wooten with Mike Orihel after that touchdown, and Keon Newson greeted him with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final seconds of the third quarter. Justin Rivers added to Baltimore's misery when he picked off another Orihel pass and returned it 40 yards for another Lions score.
The dismantling of Baltimore should give the Lions some extra swagger going into their game against the Carolina Speed next Saturday.
Conrad is expected to return for the Lions' next game, but Mullins play has given coaches confidence with both of their quarterbacks in the early part of the season.
www.ledger-enquirer.com/293/story/283341.html
