Rabbits tame Lions, 52-0

By Tim Emmons
temmons@casscountynow.com

Atlanta hosted New Boston last Friday night and increased their season record to 3-1 after beating the Lions 52-0.
The two teams first met in 1925 in a game which ended in a 0-0 tie and since that time Atlanta owns the series 47-14-2.
Since the series began Atlanta has had the longest winning streak of 15 games from 1961 to 1980 while New Boston (1-3) owns a three game winning streak from 2005 to 2009.

First Quarter
New Boston took control of the ball to open the game and immediately moved the pigskin from the 24 to the 36 in just a few plays.
Facing third down, a Rabbit defender slipped on a screen play and left a Lion player open for a reception in which was taken across midfield and down to the Rabbit 17-yard line.
Atlanta’s stout defense held together and forced a turnover on fourth down with 7:24 left in the opening frame.
The Rabbits wasted no time in getting the ball into the end zone as quarterback Layton Henson ran a perfect draw play to the running back on the first play from scrimmage, and connected with receiver Trin Taylor for an 86-yard touchdown with 7:13 left in the first quarter.
Zee Barfoot nailed the point after and the Rabbs were up 7-0.
After an interception by Dontay Casey at the 6:56 mark, Atlanta took over at the New Boston 26.
A short run by Kelton Young followed by a first down run from Henson set the Rabbs up at the 15.
A false start penalty only delayed the inevitable as Young took the handoff and slipped into the end zone for a 20-yard scamper.
Barfoot’s PAT put the Rabbs up 14-0 with 5:35 left in the first quarter.
New Boston’s offense didn’t give up as they consistently moved the ball on each drive, but they never materialized into a scoring drive.
After five plays on their next drive the Lions went for a first down on fourth-and-2, but came up short as the Rabbit defense swarmed to the ball and got the ball back near midfield with 2:11 still on the clock.
With the ball at their own 48 Henson started the drive with a short pass to receiver Desmond Webster, followed by a 17-yard scamper by Henson and then a 7-yard pass to Hunter Roberts.
The final 26 yards of the drive was Young blazing past Lion defenders and across the goal line for another score.
The PAT was unsuccessful as the ball slammed off of the uprights, but Atlanta was still ahead 20-0 with 1:10 left in the first quarter.
New Boston ran a few plays as the quarter came to a close.

Second Quarter
A few more plays into the new quarter and the Lions had to punt the ball away with 9:35 left in the first half.
Atlanta gave the ball back to the Lions after an interception, but another strong stance by the defense put the Lions in punt formation again from the 17. 
An errant snap flew over the head of the punter and as he picked it up he was leveled by Reggie Blaylock in the end zone for a safety with 5:54 left in the second stanza.
The Rabbs began their next drive at the New Boston 39 where Henson connected with Roberts for the senior’s first touchdown reception of his career. The successful PAT drove the score to 29-0 with 5:42 left in the half.
After a quick three-and-out New Boston punted the ball away again.
Nick Cooper took the initial handoff 23 yards from the Lion 45, followed by an 11-yard run by Jawan King. The drive was capped off with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Henson to Roberts on a beautiful fade into the corner of the end zone. The PAT by Jaime Campos cushioned the lead to 36-0.
New Boston ran a few plays to end the first half of play.

Third Quarter
In the second half Atlanta Head Coach Matt McClure decided to rest the starters, but that didn’t stop the Rabbit Express from rolling into the end zone on their first drive of the second half.
After a couple of short runs Grant Harrell hit Luke Anthony on a 7-yard pass play before Casey rumbled into the end zone for a 55-yard touchdown.
The Rabbs were tagged for a holding call and backed up a yard from where they began due to the spot foul.
No matter the circumstance; Cooper took the handoff on the next snap and wrestled his way into the end zone for a 54-yard score.
Cooper broke through at least four tackles or so and carried a defender 10 yards into the end zone as the New Boston player tried to rip the ball out of his grasp.
The missed PAT made the score 42-0 with 9:16 left in the third quarter.
The Lions were held to a three-and-out on their next drive and had to punt the ball away with 6:48 left on the clock.
Atlanta’s next drive ended the third quarter.
The Rabbs started from their own 39 and made it to the Lion 13 after consecutive runs by King, Cooper and Casey.
Nick Washington eventually found pay dirt but a penalty negated the score.

Fourth Quarter
The Rabbs opened the quarter facing second-and-long and eventually relied on Barfoot to kick a 26-yard field goal which was successful.
With the clock running Atlanta was up 45-0.
After a New Boston punt at the 7:05 mark, Atlanta scored one last time on a 76-yard touchdown scamper by King.
Barfoot’s PAT made the score 52-0.
Looking back at the game the Rabbits scored on every drive except when an interception was thrown.
Henson was 5-for-7 on the night with 146 yards and three touchdowns, and had 32 yards on three carries. King had 96 yards on the ground with one score; Cooper added 69 yards with a touchdown and Young had 55 yards with two touchdowns.
Taylor recorded one catch for 86 yards and a TD and Roberts had 57 yards with two touchdowns.
The Rabbs racked up 439 yards total and look to stay crisp with Tatum coming to town next week for Homecoming.
Homecoming festivities kick off at 2:15 p.m. with the parade followed by the pep rally at 2:45 p.m. in the gym.
The Homecoming presentation will begin at 7 p.m. with the game to follow at 7:30 p.m.