It's Saturday afternoon, and that means LIVE coverage of college football here on the blog. My colleague Matt Laws will be at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville later this evening for tonight's SEC showdown between Mississippi State and Tennessee.
But first, I'll be posting live updates here from the Press Box at Mars Hill College for this afternoon's tussle between the Mars Hill Lions (4-3, 1-2 in South Atlantic Conference play) and the Brevard Tornadoes (1-5, 0-3 SAC).
A pair of former Avery Vikings standouts, senior quarterback Ricky Spradling and redshirt sophomore linebacker Zach Johnson, will be starting today for the Lions.
But first, I'll be posting live updates here from the Press Box at Mars Hill College for this afternoon's tussle between the Mars Hill Lions (4-3, 1-2 in South Atlantic Conference play) and the Brevard Tornadoes (1-5, 0-3 SAC).
A pair of former Avery Vikings standouts, senior quarterback Ricky Spradling and redshirt sophomore linebacker Zach Johnson, will be starting today for the Lions.
I'll be periodically updating the game with stats and drive summaries, as well as odds and ends. Mars Hill is providing live stat updates real-time as well, and you can check that out by clicking the following link: http://sports.mhc.edu/football/Livestats/xlive.htm
1:35 PM - Brevard takes the opening kickoff on a cool, cloudy afternoon from Meares Stadium, and breaks off a 55-yard quarterback run from Trey Wilburn. Zach makes a hit on the quarterback on a third and goal carry to initally keep the Tornadoes out of the end zone. Brevard earns and first-and-goal and cashes in on a carry by running back John Taylor for the first score of the game. The PAT is good and the Tornadoes take the early 7-0 lead.
1:40 PM - On the Lions' first possession, Spradling carries the ball 15 yards for a first down on the first offensive play across midfield. Spradling converts a third down with a ten yard scramble to the Tornadoes 37. Spradling converts another third down on the drive with a screen pass to RB George Washington. A quick pass to former Murpy standout receiver Tyrea Allen set the Lions up with third and short, but a holding penalty pushed Mars Hill outside the Brevard red zone. Another pass completion leaves Mars Hill with fourth down from the Brevard 18, which the Lions decided to gamble and try to convert. On fourth down Ricky Spradling finds RB George Stripling out of the backfield with a pass that goes for a touchdown. PAT fails with 6:02 left in the opening quarter, Brevard leads 7-6.
1:55 PM- On Brevard's second possession, Zach Johnson is in on a pair of tackles as the Tornadoes are held to three-and-out and punts back to Mars Hill. The Lions keep the ball on the ground for the first four plays and advances to midfield. Spradling completes a pass to his tight end inside the 20 yard line as the first quarter concludes. Brevard leads 7-6 after the first period. Ricky Spradling is 5 of 7 for 70 yards and a touchdown after one period. Zach Johnson with three tackles, one for loss.
2:05 PM - George Washington carries the ball for a five-yard touchdown to put the Lions on top for the first time in the game. The point after try is good, capping an 11-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Mars Hill leads 13-7 with 13:40 left in the half.
2:15 PM - Brevard's next possession consumed over three minutes off the second period clock, but the drive stalls when a fourth down play inside the Lions 20 is fumbled away, giving the Lions back the football on offense. The Lions give the football back as a long pass from Spradling is intercepted by Brevard's Chase Waldo at the Tornado 20-yard line.
Brevard drives the ball using its option running attack, and the help of a personal foul penalty moved the ball into Mars Hill territory, but the defense stiffens to force a Brevard punt back to the Lions. 4:14 2nd period, 13-7 Mars Hill leads.
Mars Hill is unable to move the football and punts to Brevard to close the first half of play. 13-7 Mars Hill at intermission.
Halftime Stats:
QB Ricky Spradling: 8 of 11, 85 yards, TD, INT
1:40 PM - On the Lions' first possession, Spradling carries the ball 15 yards for a first down on the first offensive play across midfield. Spradling converts a third down with a ten yard scramble to the Tornadoes 37. Spradling converts another third down on the drive with a screen pass to RB George Washington. A quick pass to former Murpy standout receiver Tyrea Allen set the Lions up with third and short, but a holding penalty pushed Mars Hill outside the Brevard red zone. Another pass completion leaves Mars Hill with fourth down from the Brevard 18, which the Lions decided to gamble and try to convert. On fourth down Ricky Spradling finds RB George Stripling out of the backfield with a pass that goes for a touchdown. PAT fails with 6:02 left in the opening quarter, Brevard leads 7-6.
1:55 PM- On Brevard's second possession, Zach Johnson is in on a pair of tackles as the Tornadoes are held to three-and-out and punts back to Mars Hill. The Lions keep the ball on the ground for the first four plays and advances to midfield. Spradling completes a pass to his tight end inside the 20 yard line as the first quarter concludes. Brevard leads 7-6 after the first period. Ricky Spradling is 5 of 7 for 70 yards and a touchdown after one period. Zach Johnson with three tackles, one for loss.
2:05 PM - George Washington carries the ball for a five-yard touchdown to put the Lions on top for the first time in the game. The point after try is good, capping an 11-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Mars Hill leads 13-7 with 13:40 left in the half.
2:15 PM - Brevard's next possession consumed over three minutes off the second period clock, but the drive stalls when a fourth down play inside the Lions 20 is fumbled away, giving the Lions back the football on offense. The Lions give the football back as a long pass from Spradling is intercepted by Brevard's Chase Waldo at the Tornado 20-yard line.
Brevard drives the ball using its option running attack, and the help of a personal foul penalty moved the ball into Mars Hill territory, but the defense stiffens to force a Brevard punt back to the Lions. 4:14 2nd period, 13-7 Mars Hill leads.
Mars Hill is unable to move the football and punts to Brevard to close the first half of play. 13-7 Mars Hill at intermission.
Halftime Stats:
QB Ricky Spradling: 8 of 11, 85 yards, TD, INT
5 rushes, 32 yards
RB Zach Johnson: 6 tackles (1 TFL)
3 PM - Mars Hill fumbles the ball with its first possession of the third quarter in Brevard territory. Brevard drives the football for over six minutes of clock time and scores on a Matthew Gaines four yard touchdown run, capping a 13 play-55 yard drive. The successful PAT puts the Tornadoes back in the lead 14-13 with 6:35 left in the third quarter.
3:20 PM - Mars Hill opens its ensuing drive at its own 29 yard line, moving downfield with a couple of key runs, including a 22 yard touchdown run by RB George Washington off the right guard. The play capped a 10 play, 71-yard drive to give the Lions the lead at 19-14. Spradling completed a 2-point conversion pass to Elroy Harris to put Mars Hill ahead 21-14 with 1:41 to go in the third quarter. Brevard takes possession to close out the third period and the Lions leading by a touchdown.
3:35 PM - The Tornadoes were held and forced to punt back to Mars Hill, who began a drive from its own 28-yard line. With 8:14 left Spradling pump faked and hit Tyrea Allen with an 18-yard touchdown pass to cap a 11 play, 72 yard drive. The PAT is successful to stake the Lions to a 28-14 lead.
RB Zach Johnson: 6 tackles (1 TFL)
3 PM - Mars Hill fumbles the ball with its first possession of the third quarter in Brevard territory. Brevard drives the football for over six minutes of clock time and scores on a Matthew Gaines four yard touchdown run, capping a 13 play-55 yard drive. The successful PAT puts the Tornadoes back in the lead 14-13 with 6:35 left in the third quarter.
3:20 PM - Mars Hill opens its ensuing drive at its own 29 yard line, moving downfield with a couple of key runs, including a 22 yard touchdown run by RB George Washington off the right guard. The play capped a 10 play, 71-yard drive to give the Lions the lead at 19-14. Spradling completed a 2-point conversion pass to Elroy Harris to put Mars Hill ahead 21-14 with 1:41 to go in the third quarter. Brevard takes possession to close out the third period and the Lions leading by a touchdown.
3:35 PM - The Tornadoes were held and forced to punt back to Mars Hill, who began a drive from its own 28-yard line. With 8:14 left Spradling pump faked and hit Tyrea Allen with an 18-yard touchdown pass to cap a 11 play, 72 yard drive. The PAT is successful to stake the Lions to a 28-14 lead.
The Mars Hill defense holds the Tornadoes to three-and-out and must punt back to the Lions with 6:21 left in the contest. The Lions look to melt away the clock, but a fumble turns the football back over to the Tornadoes at its own 40-yard line with 4:11 remaining. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gives the Lions a first down just inside Lions territory with 3:11 to play. Brevard trailing by two scores does not appear to be in a hurry, huddling with under three minutes left. Brevard continues to go with its option running game and faces a fourth and ten with 2:06 to go.
The Tornadoes have been held to under 200 yards rushing and no passing yards in the game, while Mars Hill has 359 yards in total offense. Spradling is an efficient 13 of 18 in the game for 145 yards and a pair of TD passes. Mars Hill forces a sack on the Brevard QB to turn the ball over on downs with 1:37 remaining. Spradling has been replaced at quarterback for the final drive as the Lions have sealed a 28-14 win to move to 5-3, and a 2-2 mark in SAC play.
We'll try to have some audio comments from both Spradling and Johnson later this afternoon.
The Tornadoes have been held to under 200 yards rushing and no passing yards in the game, while Mars Hill has 359 yards in total offense. Spradling is an efficient 13 of 18 in the game for 145 yards and a pair of TD passes. Mars Hill forces a sack on the Brevard QB to turn the ball over on downs with 1:37 remaining. Spradling has been replaced at quarterback for the final drive as the Lions have sealed a 28-14 win to move to 5-3, and a 2-2 mark in SAC play.
We'll try to have some audio comments from both Spradling and Johnson later this afternoon.
