Lyman Ward Rangers vs. Dixie Academy Rebels

Lyman Ward can’t hang with Rebels, loses home opener

By Thomas Yates | Special to The Outlook

Published Saturday, September 12, 2009

The Lyman Ward Rangers fell to Dixie Academy 33-12 Friday night.

The Rebels got on the board first with a nine-play drive starting from their own 32-yard line eating up yards on the ground with seven running plays. Steven Price went in from 18 yards out the 2-point conversion failed with 8:37 in the first quarter.

Lyman Ward received the kickoff on their own 32-yard line. After two running plays netted no yards, the drive ended with an interception by Eddie Martelli for the Rebels.

The Rebels drove the ball from midfield to the Ranger 5-yard line with Price going over the goal line with 3:14 left in the first quarter.

The second quarter started much as the first with the Rebels chewing up yards on the ground. They scored in the air, however, at the 7:34 mark of the second quarter when Cody Drawby completed a 28-yard strike to Mack Williams. The two point attempt failed, and the Rebels were up 20-0.

Lyman Ward got the ball back, but a holding call forced a fourth and long for the Rangers and they gave the ball up on downs with 2:49 left in the second quarter. Dixie Academy ran a three-play drive that ended when Ranger Bryan Hollis stripped the ball away from the Dixie runner, giving the Rangers the ball back with 2:27 in the second quarter.

However, John Koob threw an interception to Drawby, who returned the ball for 30 yards for a Rebel score just as the half ended putting the Rebels up 27-0 after two quarters.

In the third quarter, the Rangers took the second half kickoff at their own 18 and started a 10-play scoring drive with Alex Bieber going in from the 4-yard line. The two-point try was no good and the score was 27-6.

At the 7:28 mark of the third quarter, a fight broke out between the two teams forcing a stoppage of play until the coaches and officials could get control of the game. A total of four players from both teams were ejected.

The Rebels took the ensuing kickoff and went on a 7-play, 64-yard drive going in for the score, making the count 33-6 at the end of the quarter. The teams traded punts in the final quarter until the 3:08 mark left in the game when Lyman Ward’s Koob picked up loose ball and scampered 52 for the final score of the night for the Rangers.

LWMA head coach Sheldon Ward said after the game that he had told his players that they were in for a hard game tonight and it might have made a difference had the Rebels not scored 27 points in the first half.

Rebel coach Mac Williams said the fight was unfortunate, but he was glad to get the win.

Lyman Ward gained 339 yards in the game and the Rebels gained 364.

The Rangers travel to Columbiana next week to take on the Cornerstone Christian Chargers.