JV rolls past Cross Plains 48-8

TheAlbany Lions junior varsity football team rolled to its second consecutive lopsided victory Thursday, Oct. 12, defeating Cross Plains 48-8 at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

TheLions(5-2)visitRoscoe at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 (tonight) in the first ofback-to-backroadgames.

In its last two games following alosstoCisco,theJV has scored 48 points each time to win easily.

“A lot of our kids are figuring out the intensity level they have to play at in order to win games,” coach Rod Britting said.

Against Cross Plains, Breylon Billington ran for two touchdowns, while Aaden Mendez passed for two and ran for another. Albany scored on its first five possessions and outgained the Buffaloes 324 total yards to 117 as Billington rushed 10 times for 134 yards and Mendez was 5 of 8 passing for 89 yards.

“The offensive line took control of the game,” coach David Fairchild said. “Our backs ran hard, and Mendez threwwell.Defensively, we were aggressive and swarmed to the ball.”

The bulk of Cross Plains’ yardage came on a 90-yard touchdown run.

Albany took advantage of Hernandez’s 30-yard return of the opening kickoff to move 40 yards in five plays. Billington’s 2-yard score gave the Lions a 6-0 lead barely two minutes into the game.

TheLionsheldondowns at midfield to set up the second score, which came on a 19-yard pass to Mason McCloy with 1:32 left in the first quarter.

A bad punt snap to start the second quarter gave AlbanytheballattheCross Plains 21 yard line. Two plays later, Shawn Keen scored on a 16-yard run.

Keen then intercepted a pass and returned it to the Cross Plains 28 to set up the next score. The Lions had first-and-goal at the nine before being pushed back by a holding penalty, butMendezconnectedwith Wesley Gleitz for a 14-yard TD.BrodyOliverthenmade a leaping catch forAlbany’s first successful conversion and a 26-0 lead.

Albanycovered39yards in two plays for a fifth TD. McCloy had a 36-yard reception to set up Mendez’ rushing touchdown. Gleitz caught the conversion pass for a 34-0 halftime lead.

With a running clock in the second half, the Lions ate up most of the third quarter with a seven-play drive. Billington scored on a 20-yard run and Hollis Yeates ran for the conversion to make it 42-0.

After Cross Plains’ touchdown, Albany drove to the Buffaloes 3-yard line only to fumble into the end zone for a touchback. Britton Farmer closed out the scoring with a 30-yard fumble return on the final play of the game. The Lions did not attempt the PAT.