By Rocky Nimmons
Publisher

rnimmons@thepccourier.com

WAHALLA — After a season of many ups and downs, Friday night’s 49-0 victory over the Walhalla Razorbacks came at the perfect time[cointent_lockedcontent]

John Bolton/BoltonPhoto.com
Daniel’s Jacob Maloney stiff-arms a Walhalla player during the Lions’ 49-0 win on Friday night.

for the Daniel Lions.

The victory came at a time where the Lions needed a morale boost. The lopsided contest gave every player dressed out a chance to get on the field and mix it up.

“It has been a while since we had a game like this. To get up quick and get on top and get everybody we had dressed out into the game was good for team morale and team building for the future,” Daniel head coach Randy Robinson said after the game.

The Lions put forth a dominating effort against a much lesser opponent in Walhalla, but it was not so much about the win as it was a game that brought team unity and a win to inject a bit of confidence into the team as it prepares to face its toughest rival when the unbeaten Seneca Bobcats come to Singleton Field on Friday fresh off clinching their first Western 3A crown since 1996.

The victory also assured the Lions of a return to the AAA playoffs with at least a fourth-place region finish.

“It was good to get a big win, and we assured ourselves getting into the playoffs. Every team sets a goal of getting into the playoffs, so we accomplished a goal right there,” Robinson said.

The Lions scored early and often against the Razorbacks, and if there was any reason for concern, it was that the Lions mounted more penalty yards (122) on the night than Walhalla had in total offense (95).

The Daniel defense played as well as it had all season, completely shutting down Walhalla from the get-go. At the halftime intermission, the Lions’ defense had allowed only three yards of Razorback offense.

“The defense getting that zero was a big deal,” Robinson said. “We really had two goal-line stands and held them twice. The defense is trying to pull it together, and those kids are working hard, and it is good to see them have some success.”

The Lions started the game on the move, taking the opening kickoff at the 35. Quarterback Ben Batson went right to work, hitting wideout Carter Groomes for eight yards. Two plays later, Batson used his legs to pick up 50 yards on a pair of scrambles, but on the second run he lost his handle on the ball and fumbled the pigskin away with Walhalla recovering at its own 7-yard line.

The Daniel defense gave up nothing to the Razorbacks and forced a punt after three snaps. A great return by C.J. Scott flipped the field, and the Lions were sitting pretty at the Walhalla 15.

Batson quickly made up for the early fumble when he spotted a wide-open Will Swinney in the end zone on the drive’s first play. Following the catch, Rivers Sherrill trotted on and tacked on the extra point with 7:54 to play in the first quarter, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead.

The Lions continued to pound the Razorbacks defensively, and Batson and company were rolling all night. Following a three and out, Daniel put together a four-play drive that went 60 yards for a score. The Lions were so dominating on the drive that despite two holding calls that called back huge runs, the Columbia blue and gold machine never stopped churning and scored on a 12-yard pass from Batson to Groomes with 3:59 to play in the first quarter. Sherrill missed the PAT, but the rout was on and Daniel led 13-0.

A Miles Turmon sack ended any hopes of a Walhalla first down and again forced the Razorbacks to punt the next time Walhalla had the ball.

Like lightning, Daniel struck again — this time on a single snap, as Batson again found an open receiver. It was Scott who got behind the Walhalla secondary, and the speedster hauled in the pass and raced 42 yards for a touchdown with 1:07 to play in the first quarter. Robinson elected to go for a two-point conversion to make up for the previous PAT miss. Again it was Batson to Scott, making the score 21-0 in favor of the visitors.

It didn’t get any better for the Walhalla offense, and the Daniel defense, led by Jacob Maloney and Bru Nimmons, stymied the Razorbacks and forced yet another three plays and punt.

The Daniel offense just kept driving. Taking over at the Walhalla 45, Batson picked up nine on first down. Two plays later, it was Stephon Kirksey’s turn, and the back answered with a 25-yard pickup. Another holding penalty backed the Lions up a bit, but Batson was in control. The signal caller just took a breath, caught the snap and gunned a pass to Swinney from 20 yards out for a touchdown with 9:49 to play in the half. Cortland Young came on and nailed the PAT for his team, pushing the Daniel lead to 28-0.

The Lions managed one last score before intermission on a five-play series that covered 66 yards. Big plays on the series included three passes to Groomes for a combined 57 yards. The touchdown came on an eight-yard run by Kirksey. Young added the PAT, and the half ended with the Lions in control 35-0.

As the second half began, Robinson took the opportunity to start substituting freely, allowing every player a chance at live game action.

Walhalla did show some life after intermission and moved the ball on Daniel defensive coordinator Jeff Fruster’s unit. Starting at their own 46, the Razorbacks strung together a few positive plays, picking up three first downs on a 12-play drive. Walhalla managed to push the ball down to the Lions’ 14, but Fruster’s boys bowed their backs and held tight, making Walhalla try a 32-yard field goal. The kick was not even close, with the Lion defense holding.

The Daniel offense then drove 80 yards in nine plays. Kirksey picked up 21 yards on three carries. Robinson pulled the starter and called on sophomore Marnielius Cobb, and the youngster took the chance to shine with three runs that netted 18 yards. Batson sealed the deal with a 16-yard pass to Jacob Wichelns for a touchdown with 2:44 to play in the third quarter.

The Lions’ final points of the game were all defense as Fruster’s unit was substituting freely. Walhalla had the ball at its own 25 late in the game and slung a pass upfield. Daniel defensive back Lamar “Booboo” Woods picked the ball off and raced 40 yards for a score. Young added the PAT with 3:44 to play to seal the Lion’s 49-0 victory.

This Friday, the Lions will have to forget about the win against Walhalla and focus on taking on one of the top teams in the state when the Bobcats come to Central to renew their annual rivalry.

“If our guys can dig down deep next week — we are playing a team that is undefeated and already conference champs — we will see if we can show some Daniel pride and get after it next week in practice,” Robinson said.

“I am hoping our seniors will lead next week in practice. These Seneca seniors have beaten these kids all the way through, and this is our kids’ last chance to get them. I hope they will want to work hard in practice and execute the gameplan and give themselves a chance to play well and win.”

Friday will be the final game of the season at Singleton Field, with the 2015 seniors getting one last shot to shine at home.

“Normally on senior night our kids rise to the occasion and play their best,” Robinson said. “I hope our seniors put their best foot forward in this game and down the road we will see where we end up in the playoffs.

“I pulled out the history book of the Daniel football program and talked about previous teams. I told them they are part of a legacy. They are part of something great. They are going to be remembered for something. I told them you have two games to get this thing to .500 and get to the playoffs. I challenged them on what they will be remembered for, and hopefully they will carry that over to next week against Seneca.”

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