Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Lions win, but miss out on playoffs

Mullins upset of Marion ends good year for Loris

LORIS -- The Loris Lions did what they could do Friday night at Heniford Field to earn their first playoff berth since 2005.

The Lions took care of business with a 40-12 victory over Aynor, completing a 6-4 season and turnaround from consecutive 2-8 seasons in coach Jimmy Longerbeam's first two years.

But Loris couldn't control what happened in Marion on Friday, and Mullins' 28-7 win over the Swamp Foxes dropped the Lions out of playoff contention.

Loris was in with a Marion win or even more Marion points Friday. But a three-way tie between the two teams for the final two playoff spots out of region VIII-AA was broken first on defensive points allowed in regulation in games involving the three teams head-to-head. Mullins had that advantage, having allowed 21 points to Loris' 38 and Marion's 35.

That left the head-to-head battle between Marion and Loris to break the tie for the final playoff spot, and Marion defeated the Lions.

"I'm a little disheartened for the kids because I know they've been looking forward to going to the playoffs," Longerbeam said. "They did a great job all year and we need to build on next year with this year."

The Lions received impressive efforts from unlikely sources Friday, as starting junior tailback R.J. Brown skipped the game because of cumulative minor injuries, according to Longerbeam, and a few starters were suspended for the game for disciplinary reasons.

Sophomore Markeise Jackson, who had carried the ball only on the junior varsity level before Friday, gained 200 yards on six carries. He was told following a loss to Dillon last week that he would likely get some action at running back against Aynor. "I was just shocked," Jackson said. "They told me to get in a lot of practice so I could learn the plays and they could put me in."

Jackson scored on touchdown runs of 85 and 16 yards, displaying both speed and elusiveness on the runs, and set up a short Denzell Strayhorn touchdown run with a 52-yard gain.

Sophomore Trey Wilson also stepped up to gain 57 yards and score a TD on nine carries, and senior quarterback Adam Peterson, a starter earlier this season, scored on a 27-yard run.

"I thought our kids played real well tonight," Longerbeam said. "It was big for us and our program to come in tonight and get our sixth win and put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs. Our kids have done a great job. ... We kind of thought our third year here would give us an opportunity to get in the playoffs and these kids have just battled."

Aynor concluded a 1-9 season and received touchdown runs of 6 yards by Casey Poston and 64 yards by Vonte Kinlaw in a second half that was played with a continuous clock. Blue Jackets' senior Nick Asbury gained 37 yards on 11 carries in his final game.