Lions Fall In Opener, 42-14

Cannon County's football Lions opened their 2009 season Friday night against the Spring Hill Raiders. The Lions came in to the game with high expectations after several successful pre-season scrimmages.

Spring Hill took the opening kick-off and moved the ball quickly down the field, but the Lion defense recovered a fumble to end the drive. The Lions were unable to move the ball and a 17 yard punt return set up the first Raider touchdown.

The Raiders kept up the offensive pressure by completing a 53 yard touchdown pass on their next possession with 1:26 left in the first quarter. The Lions were able to move the ball with Lee Cooper hitting several receivers on short passes, but a strong Raider defense found ways to end the drives.

The Lions defensive line played well all night recovering three fumbles, but breakdowns in the Lions secondary led to touchdown passes of 59 and 53 yards to put the Raiders up 28-0 at the half.

The second half started with the Raiders intercepting a Lion pass leading to a 25 yard touchdown. The Raiders finished out the third quarter with a long pass going 65 yards for another touchdown, putting their lead at 35-0.

Cannon County finally got their offense going in the fourth quarter with Cooper and Daniel Woodin moving the ball down the field. Cooper finished the drive with a 27 yard touchdown run, and a two point pass to Heath Simons made the score 42-8.

After a Lion fumble recovery on the Raider 28 yard line, Cooper hit Simons for a 23 yard touchdown pass, making the final score 42-14.

After the game coach Joel Schrenk said, “We didn’t quit. They never gave up. Monday we’ll be back to work and we are going to get better. The good thing is, everything we did wrong we can fix- and we will.”

The Lions continue 2009 football season action this coming Friday on the road against West Creek.