After a relatively comfortable win over Warren to start the season, Lyons needed some superb running by junior running back Reggie Terrell in the second half on Friday, Sept. 4, to rally past Morton 23-20.
The Lions (2-0) had a difficult time stopping Mustangs running back Greg Hoard in the first half from marching down the field. He had 167 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns and kept the Lions’ offense off the field for long stretches, particularly in the first quarter. The Lions found themselves down 20-13 at the half.
The defense made some adjustments at intermission and focused attention on Hoard to keep him — and the Mustangs (0-2) — off the scoreboard in the second half.
“We knew they were going to run the ball and we were going to force them to beat us by throwing the ball,” Lions coach Kurt Weinberg said.
The Lions took a page from the Mustangs’ book and let Terrell carry the load in the second half on offense. And while none of his runs went for more than 17 yards, he was consistently gaining four to eight yards and moving the chains.
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He had 21 carries for 125 yards in the second half and finished with 28 carries for 143 yards and a touchdown.
The added workload was no problem for Terrell.
“I was ready and I was prepared to do whatever it took to win the game for us,” he said.
Terrell was almost a one-man offense with 6 minutes, 25 seconds left in the game and the Lions protecting a 23-20 lead. He carried the ball nine times and marched them from their own 21 to the Mustangs’ 2-yard line in a span of over four minutes. His biggest play was a 12-yard run on fourth-and-2 with 2:11 left to ice the win.
“I was confident,” Terrell said. “I was prepared and I knew there was no way they were going to stop us on that play. We were going to make that first down.”
Lions quarterback Ben Bryant was 10 of 16 passing for 133 yards. He had one interception returned for a touchdown late in the first half, but he also had three carries for 12 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver James Saracco had three receptions for 62 yards and made some key blocks on the wing for Terrell in the second half.
Chris Vavra is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.