Lions run wild, defense stifles Seymour
The Albany Lions rolled to a commanding 69-6 victory over the Seymour Panthers on the road Friday night, backed by a relentless ground attack and a suffocating defense.
Albany amassed 500 yards of total offense, including 399 rushing yards, while holding Seymour to just 15 rushing yards and forcing four turnovers. The win moved the Lions to 3-0 on the season heading into homecoming week.
“Our guys played really well on both sides of the ball,” said head coach Denney Faith. “We started fast, stayed consistent, and finished strong. I’m proud of the way they stayed focused all week in practice.”
Sophomore Bennett Neece had a breakout performance, rushing for 155 yards and three touchdowns on only six carries, including an 80-yard score late in the game. Shawn Keen added 118 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Woods Peterson and Lyle Wheeler also contributed in the backfield. As a team, Albany averaged more than 12 yards per carry and scored seven rushing touchdowns.
Quarterback Lyle Wheeler completed five passes for 101 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Calhan Fairchild, Jaxson Street, and Christian Hernandez in the air.
The Lions’ defense continued its dominant run, allowing just 156 total yards. Albany recorded three sacks and picked off four passes, including a standout performance from senior defensive end Sean Keen. “We’ve been playing well in the secondary, and that all starts up front,” Faith said. “Our pressure on the quarterback gave those guys opportunities to make plays.”
The lopsided score also allowed Albany to rotate in younger players and give valuable reps to the second unit. “You never know when someone’s number is going to be called,” Faith said. “Getting those guys experience now will help us later.”
With Merkel dropping out of the schedule this season, Albany picked up Coahoma as a replacement for this Friday’s homecoming game. While the Bulldogs are a larger classification school, Faith expects a tough, athletic opponent.
“They’ve had good teams the last few years, and they play hard,” he said. “They’re starting a younger quarterback right now, but he’s quick and dangerous. We’ve got to stay focused, especially with all the distractions that come with homecoming.”
Kickoff against Coahoma is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.
