MARS HILL – UNC Pembroke and Mars Hill combined for 100 points and nearly 1,100 yards of total offense, but it was touchdowns on consecutive fourth-quarter drives by the Lions that proved to be the difference in a 56-44 win over the Braves on Saturday afternoon at Meares Stadium.
The setback marked the fourth-straight road loss for the Black & Gold (2-7) who will wrap up its 2017 campaign next weekend at Carson-Newman. The triumph snapped a five-game losing streak for Mars Hill (3-9) who will cap its season next weekend at Newberry.
Dominick Samson threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns on 6-of-9 passing before suffering an undisclosed injury at the end of the first half, but
Auston Foley stepped in and threw for 177 yards and a pair of scores on 14-of-17 passing in relief.
JoJo Spann hauled in five passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns, while
E.J. Williams registered six catches for 105 yards as well.
David Salmon countered with 348 passing yards and six touchdowns for the Lions, who also got 168 rushing yards (32 carries) and one score from Malik Prescott. Keshaun Taylor caught nine passes for 183 yards and four scores, and nearly had a passing touchdown as well thanks for a 54-yard pass in the fourth quarter that set the Lions up at the 1-yard line.
The two teams combined for 726 offensive yards and 73 points in the first half as all nine possessions in the opening stanza produced points on the scoreboard. Mars Hill scored touchdowns on all five of their first half possessions, and held the Braves to field goals on two of their four possessions. That proved to be the only difference as Mars Hill took a 42-31 lead into the locker rooms.
Foley found
Shammond Hicks on a nifty 42-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter to trim the deficit for the Braves down to just five points, but Mars Hill stuffed the Black & Gold on a key fourth down play at the end of the third period, and used Taylor's pass moments later to set up the eventual deciding score early in the final period. Prescott's 31-yard scoring jaunt on the next Mars Hill possession capped the scoring on the day for the hosts.
The Braves will be in action again on November 11 when they head to Jefferson City, Tenn., to close out their 2017 season at Carson-Newman (7-3). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Burke-Tarr Stadium.
