Atlanta Rabbits prevail over Leopards, 31-26

By Tim Emmons
temmons@casscountynow.com

Atlanta (2-1) looked like a well-oiled machine last Friday night in their 31-26 win over rival Liberty-Eylau (0-4) on the Leopards’ Homecoming night.
As expected the two foes went back and forth in a game where obvious touchdown passes were dropped keeping the score close as in most cases when these two meet.

First Quarter
Liberty-Eylau received the ball first but ran full force into a stout defensive stand by the Rabbits.
After a quick three-and-out L-E punted the ball to Atlanta with 10:53 left in the first frame.
One of the Rabbits broke through the line on the snap and blocked the punt which gave Atlanta a first-and-goal opportunity from the L-E 6-yard line.
The Rabbs were unable to score a touchdown after the gifted yardage, but Zee Barfoot did give them a 3-0 lead after connecting on a 24-yard field goal with 10:10 left in the opening quarter.
L-E’s next drive didn’t look any better as they dug themselves a third-down-and-12 hole after a penalty and two short run plays.
On third down the Leopards’ quarterback connected with a receiver who took off across midfield and towards the end zone, but lost control of the ball deep in Rabbit territory after Layton Henson punched the ball from his grasp.
With the fumble recovery Atlanta was in business again from their own 21.
Henson hit both Kelton Young and Hunter Roberts for short gains on the drive, and after a 5-yard gain by Young, the Rabbs faced a fourth down situation closer to L-E’s end zone than their own.
Henson gained just enough yardage on the attempt to keep the drive alive, but the Rabbs turned the ball over four plays later after a failed fourth down conversion at the 40.
L-E had no more luck than they had before and had to punt the ball to Atlanta with 4:05 left on the clock.
This time the Rabbits came out with an up-tempo offense with no huddles.
From the 19, Young picked up six yards on the ground before Henson hit Roberts for a 36-yard gain followed by a stiff 20-yard ground-shaking run by Henson.
Young had two touches which brought the Rabbs within seven yards. The nine-play drive ended with sophomore Jawan King taking the ball across the goal line from the 7-yard line.
Barfoot’s PAT was good and the Rabbs were up 10-0 with 1:04 left in the first stanza.
The quarter ended with L-E facing third down.

Second Quarter
The Leopards ended the first quarter with the ball on their own 36 and moved to the Rabbit 25 in just four plays.
A couple of plays later and L-E was in the end zone for their first score of the contest.
The PAT was no good and the Rabbs held onto a 10-6 lead with 10:03 left in the first half.
King racked up 22 yards on five carries for the Rabbits on their next drive and Henson hit Desmond Webster for nine yards, but the Rabbs ended up turning the ball over near midfield at the 7:23 mark.
L-E turned the ball back over to Atlanta near midfield after a failed fourth down conversion with 6:23 left on the clock.
After a 37-yard pass from Henson to Webster on the second play of the Rabbs’ next drive Nick Cooper ran the ball three times for 14 yards and later scored from two yards out.
The PAT set the score at 17-6 with 5:32 left in the second stanza.
Not to be outdone, L-E went on a 12-yard drive which spanned 69 yards, had three third down conversions and lasted just over three minutes.
The 2-point play was successful and the cats were behind 17-14 with 2:15 left in the half.
Atlanta gave the Leopards a gift of their own on the kickoff as the Rabbs’ return man fumbled the ball away to L-E at the Rabbit 23.
Three plays later the cats took their first lead of the game.
The PAT was no good but L-E was up 20-17 with 1:23 left on the clock.
A few runs by King totaling 30 yards and an incomplete pass ended the first half.

Third Quarter
Atlanta opened the second half with the football.
The 11-play drive ended with a fumble at the 8:05 mark but Cooper had five yards rushing, Henson had 21 yards rushing and King had 15 yards rushing on the drive in addition to a 20-yard pass play from Henson to Roberts.
The Leopards next drive started at their own five but a quick 35-yard pass gave them a first down and some breathing room.
A few plays later the cats had to punt the ball away with 6:56 left in the third frame.
The Rabbs opened their next drive with a 9-yard pass from Henson to Ken Butler, but had to punt the ball away after failing to pick up a first down.
Fortunately for the Rabbs the Leopards were called for a penalty which gave them new life at the 40.
Henson connected with Roberts for 21 yards and Butler for 28 a few plays later, and Cooper capped off the 10-yard drive with a 7-yard scramble into the end zone.
Barfoot nailed the PAT and Atlanta regained the lead 24-20 with 3:44 left in the third quarter.
After a couple of punts back and forth, and an interception on the sideline by Nick Washington the Rabbs ended the quarter on a 23-yard gallop by Roberts.

Fourth Quarter
With the ball at the Leopard 19, Cooper pounded the ball down to the seven in two run plays where Henson worked his way across the goal line for another touchdown.
With Barfoot’s PAT the Rabbs cushioned their lead 31-20 with 10:56 left in the fourth quarter.
The Rabbs defense stepped up big after a huge kickoff return brought the cats to the Rabbit 38.
L-E worked the ball down to the nine in nine plays only to turn the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass on fourth down with 8:49 left to go in the game.
Atlanta punted the ball away after a quick three-and-out with 7:23 showing on the clock, and L-E started their next drive from the Atlanta 44.
After a few short plays the Leopards crossed the goal line on a 34-yard touchdown but the play was negated after a holding call.
That only set up the next play which was a 43-yard touchdown pass with six minutes left in the contest.
The 2-point play was no good but the cats were down just 31-26.
After an Atlanta punt at the 4:32 mark, L-E looked primed to score again from Rabbit territory but a big stand by the Atlanta defense again took the wind out of their sails as they turned the ball over on downs at the Rabbit 33 with 3:03 remaining.
The next drive by Atlanta’s offense kept the crowd on the edge of their seats after Henson hit Butler for 11 yards on third down for a first down.
Two plays later a personal foul penalty was assessed to L-E which handed the Rabbs the ball game.
The Rabbits played stellar on both sides of the ball with both the offensive and defensive lines making big pushes.
Henson finished the game with 178 yards passing and 67 yards rushing with a touchdown.
King had 80 yards rushing with a touchdown; Young had 29 yards rushing; Cooper had 25 yards rushing with two scores and Roberts had 12 yards rushing.
Roberts also had 108 yards receiving; Butler added 48; Webster recorded 46 and Young had five receiving yards.
Barfoot was 1-for-1 in field goal attempts as he knocked down a 24 yarder, and was 4-for-4 in extra point attempts which gave the young kicker seven points alone.
Atlanta is back home this Friday night as they host the New Boston Lions at 7:30 p.m.