Lions win big over Cumberland

The Lions Football Team shut out the Cumberland Pirates at home Friday night by a score of 33-0.

The game began with a kick off by Justin King. The Pirate ball carrier Cody Ashworth was taken down on the 40 yard line by Tyler Howard, Alan Wolter and Chance Rector.

Cumberland moved downfield, gaining yardage on several carries by Kenny Flood. Unable to secure another first down, the Pirates punted.

Lion quarterback Travis Johnson made a lateral pass to Taylor Duncan, who made a fantastic 75-yard pass to Alan Wolter. There wasn't a Pirate within twenty yards of Wolter and he swiftly ran in for a touchdown. Blake Hook's extra point kick was good, and the Lions led 7-0.

Justin King kicked off to the Pirates, who took possession on their 35 yard line. Cumberland was unable to make much progress against the tough Lion defense, and the Pirates were forced to punt. The ball was recovered by Kyle Burnam who moved the ball to the 50 yard line.

The Lions proceeded to make a rapid drive downfield on carries by T. Johnson, Burnam and Ryan Shumaker. A penalty was called on the Pirates, and the Lions had the ball with only 2.5 yards to the goal line. T. Johnson ran in for a touchdown. Hook's extra point kick was good, and the Lions led 14-0.

Cumberland handled the ball briefly. Drew Kendall and Joseph Bartnick stopped a run by Flood. Then the Pirates fumbled on their second down, and Alan Wolter recovered the ball for Marshall. Johnson and Burnam both made carries for the Lions, gaining a first down just as the first quarter came to an end.

The Lions started out the second quarter with the ball on the Cumberland 25 yard line. Johnson made a nice run for a first down. Burnam gained yards to put the ball on the Cumberland seven yard line. The Lions soon clinched the deal with a nice pass by T. Johnson to tight end Tyler Shotts for a touchdown. Hook's extra point kick was good and Marshall led 21-0 with ten minutes left in the first half.

Tyler Howard kicked off for Marshall. It was also Howard who tackled the Pirate receiver. A personal foul was called against the Lions, bringing the ball to the Cumberland 41 yard line. Once again, the tough Lion defense proved too much for the Pirates, and the ball was soon back in Lion hands.

Marshall took over the ball on the Cumberland 23 yard line. The Lions made a swift advance toward the Cumberland goal line with carries by T. Johnson and Travis Linder.

Cumberland impeded the Lion progress for a few plays with tackles by Brett Miller and a quarterback sack by Jim Crews. Then, Duncan completed a 17-yard pass to Wolter, and the Lions began another direct assault on the Cumberland goal line.

T. Johnson completed a pass to Dustin Morey, followed by a couple of nice carries by Duncan including a spin to the two yard line. Burnam ran the ball in for a touchdown. The extra point was no good, and the Lions led 27-0.

The Pirates tried unsuccessfully to score before the halftime buzzer. Flood completed a pass to Ashworth for a first down. The Pirates gained more yardage on a carry by Daniel Nielson and another pass by Flood. Lion tacklers included Ryan O'Rourke, Ryan Shumaker and T. Johnson. The first half ended with a quarterback sack by Duncan.

As the third quarter got underway, the Lions pressed down the field with carries by T. Johnson and Burnam and great blocking by the offensive line of Stephen Bowen, Vance Bohannon, Tyler Howard, Andrew Brown, Joseph Bartnick and Morgan Miller.

As the Lions approached the Cumberland goal line, Johnson completed a nice pass to Tyler Shotts. Then Burnam ran the ball in for yet another Lion touchdown. The extra point was not good, and the Lions let 33-0.

The Lions kicked off again, and the Pirate ball carrier was tackled at the 25 yard line by Jake Hoalt and Lee Combs.

A relentless Lion assault kept the Pirates from hardly moving the ball. Flood tried a pass to Ky Butler, and it was blocked by Wolter. Flood attempted to run with the ball but was stopped by Duncan and Wolter. Cumberland was forced to punt.

Burnam received the kickoff and ran the ball to the 43 yard line. The Lions advanced to the Cumberland goal line. T. Johnson passed to Shumaker for a first down, then threw to Wolter who proceeded to the two yard line. A penalty was called on Marshall and the ball was taken back to the 45 yard line.

Undaunted, the Lions resumed their advance to the goal line. They went all the the way to the one yard line on carries by Wolter, Duncan and Stephen O'Rourke.

The Pirates took over the ball on their one yard line. They made nice progress with two consecutive first downs. And then lost the ball when Wolter intercepted it.

For a few minutes, Travis Johnson and Taylor Duncan switched positions. Johnson became tailback and Duncan quarterback. Johnson carried the ball to the 40 yard line for a first down.

In the next few plays, Combs and Duncan made carries until the Pirates took over possession on their own 30 yard line.

Despite relentless pressure from the Lion defense, Cumberland managed a couple of first downs. But then Tyler Sandefer intercepted a Pirate pass and the ball was back in Lion hands once again with 7:15 left in the game.

Marshall gained on carries by Sam Chubb, Justin King and Stephen O'Rourke. Providing a strong Lions defense were Tyler Bishop, Dalton Sanders, Rudy Medsker, Drew Kendall, Jared Peel, Chance Rector and Blake Smithson.

Cumberland regained possession in the final minute but was unable to score due to tackles by Conor Littleton, Chase Boyer and Rector.

The game ended Marshall 33, Cumberland 0, and the Lions have a record of 2-1. The Lions will travel to Edwards County Friday.