JV improves to 3-0 after Eastland win

 By Donnie A. Lucas

The JV Lions improved to 3-0 for the season after a 38-14 win over the Eastland Mavericks at Robert Nail Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 12.

Albany will travel to Hawley this week to play the Bearcats in a 7:00 p.m. game

The Lions scored four times in the first half to lead 26-7 at the half.

“I’m sure it was a fun game to watch,” coach Rod Britting said. “There were two good teams out there on the field, but ultimately we were able to take advantage of their turnovers and stepped up our defense.”

The coach said that the Lion secondary also improved, along with the line, over the previous games.

“Barrett Beal had an excellent game catching the ball, and Cole Chapman did a good job of leading the offense,” Britting said. “Bryce Asher and Taren Farmer led the defense for us.”

Chapman opened the scoring for the Lions with a 43-yard keeper in the first quarter. The PAT failed.

In the second quarter, Farmer ran the ball 56 yards up the middle for a tally, with a two-point pass from Chapman to Beal to lead 14-7.

Beal scored on a 30-yard reception from Chapman on Albany’s next series. The PAT attempt failed.

Caden Price set up a third touchdown in the period for the Lions with an interception he returned inside the 10. Chapman hit Beal with a fade route in the end zone for the tally. The try for two failed.

Malachi Gueldner opened the second half with an interception on the Mavericks’ opening drive, returning the ball 48 yards for a touchdown. The two-point attempt failed.

Holton Graham stopped the next Eastland series with a fumble recovery. However, the Lions fumbled the ball back before they could score.

Bryce Asher picked off a pass and returned the ball to inside the 10-yard line to set up the final touchdown. Price took the ball the final two yards on a run for the score. The two-point play failed.

The coach said that the Lions did a good job of controlling the ball in the fourth quarter to ice the game.