The Lions improved to 3-1, as they extended their win streak - the first in school history - to three games.
After a sluggish first half, the Lions roared on offense and defense, limiting the Cavs to 2 yards rushing and 59 yards passing in the second half.
“I told the guys at halftime that CrossPointe was going to come out and try to embarrass you on your own home field,” said Lions head coach Jim McClelland. “They wanted the game more in the first half. Our guys came out flat. We came out and executed in the second half and took over the game.”
The Lions had an awful start to the game, keeping the ball for only two possessions in the first quarter, losing one possession on a fumble. CrossPointe immediately took advantage of the gift by Faith Christian, embarking on a 60-yard drive which ended with a 6-yard touchdown run by Cavs running back Santana Morretto. The two-point conversion was good and the Cavs led 8-0.
It was at this point that Lions sophomore running back/linebacker Robert Jackson got his start. He took the handoff, drove to the left, cut back and scampered 50 yards for a TD and ensuing two-point conversion to tie the game at 8 in the second quarter.
The fireworks, especially from Jackson, began in the third quarter. On the Cavs’ first possession of the quarter, Jackson stripped the ball from Cavs running back Will Hull and ran 50 yards for the Lions’ first lead of the game. The Lions didn’t make the conversion so the score stood at 14-8 with 11:35 left in the third.
CrossPointe scored again on a Hull TD run, but didn’t make the conversion to tie the game at 14 with 3:24 left in the third. It was the last time the Cavs would score, thanks in large part to Jackson and a revived Lions team. The Lions scored on four of their next five possessions in the fourth to blow the game away.
Quarterback Brandon Ray scored a TD and conversion to increase the lead to 22-14 and the rout was on. Lions RB Andrew Carmichael threw a 32 yard TD pass to Ray and the conversion was good for a 30-14 lead and after a Jackson interception, Ray scored on a quarterback keeper and conversion for a 38-14 lead. Brandon Bankston scored the last TD for the Lions for the final margin of 46-14.
“I felt good about the game today; I’m glad we won,” said Jackson, whose line included 2 fumble recoveries, an interception, a rushing TD and a fumble return TD. “I kept telling the guys that we can win this game - I kept trying to make them believe. I really believe we’re a championship team.”
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