Published: October 31, 2009 01:45 am      

Richardson Pearce rallies to beat Lions

RICHARDSON —  — Richardson Pearce stormed back from a 22-0 deficit to overtake the Greenville Lions 43-22 in District 10-4A football on Friday night at Eagle-Mustang Stadium.

The Mustangs improved to 6-3 for the season and 4-2 in District 10-4A play to protect their bid for the district’s fourth playoff berth.

The loss eliminated the 5-4 Lions from the playoff picture. They can close out the 2009 season with a winning record if they beat Rockwall in the season finale on Friday at T.A. “Cotton” Ford Stadium.

Greenville scored on its first four possessions to jump out to a surprising 22-0 lead.

The Lions drove 49 yards in 10 plays to score on their opening possession. Running back L'jorian Harris ran for gains of 12 and 10 yards and N.J. Mason reeled off runs of eight and four yards.

The drive appeared to be stalled at the Mustang 7-yard line after quarterback Alton Dennis was stopped for a 5-yard loss. Greenville sent in the field goal unit for Ryan Wilhelm to attempt a 25-yard field goal. But Pearce was flagged for offsides and Lions coach Jim Phillips elected to gamble on fourth and goal from the three following the penalty. Running back Dakieston Williams ran in from there for the touchdown. Wilhelm's kick made it 7-0.

Defensive back Cobbie Johnson stopped a Pearce threat on its second possession with an interception at the Lion 14. Dennis scored three plays later on an 80-yard run down the right sideline. It was the senior's second longest run of the season next to an 83-yarder. The lead stayed at 13-0 after Brooks Vehslage blocked Wilhelm's extra point attempt.

Another Pearce turnover set up Greenville's next score. Linebacker Ezekiel Prado turned a Pearce interception 17 yards to the Mustang 45. Greenville got as close as the Mustang 2-yard line before settling for Wilhelm's 20-yard field goal that made it 16-0 with 9:55 still left in the second quarter.

Greenville still wasn't through scoring, marching 58 yards in seven plays. The key play in the drive was a 9-yard run by punter Michael Riskey for a first down after Riskey retrieved a low snap from center on fourth and four from the Greenville 46. Dennis passed for a 15-yard completion to wide receiver Devonte Green before Williams dashed 32 yards up the middle for the touchdown with 6:18 left before the half. Dennis tried to pass for two points but misfired.

Pearce answered the 22-0 deficit with a 75-yard, six-play drive fueled by a 39-yard completion from quarterback Caleb Lewis to wide receiver Jake Allen. Corey Coleman topped off the drive with a 1-yard run for the touchdown. Michael Hunnicutt's kick made it 22-7.

Pearce's defense forced a punt and Blake Jumonville's 22-yard return set the Mustangs up at the Lion 25. Lewis passed to Coleman for the touchdown on the next play. Hunnicutt's kick brought the Mustangs to within 22-14 with 2:52 left in the second quarter. That 22-14 lead held up through halftime.

Pearce took its first possession of the second half 58 yards in five plays including a 38-yard pass from Lewis to Jumonville and then Lewis’ 9-yard touchdown pass to Josh Gold. Dominque Mitchell enabled the Lions hang on to a 22-20 lead when he intercepted Lewis’ two-point pass attempt.

The 22-20 lead didn’t stand up for long as Pearce running back Corey Coleman wove his way through the Lion defense for a 76-yard touchdown run to put the Mustangs up for good with 4:57 left in the third period.

Vehslage then returned an interception 35 yards for an apparent Pearce touchdown but the return was called back because of a holding penalty. The Mustangs scored two plays later on Lewis’ 29-yard pass to Jumonville.

Greenville tried to dent a 36-22 disadvantage, putting together a 17-play drive from its 30 to the Mustang nine before Pearce’s defense forced three straight incompletions.

The Mustangs drove 91 yards in 12 plays for the final touchdown, a 1-yard run by Gold.

Lewis finished 15-of-27 passing for 244 yards.

Green rushed for 114 yards on 16 carries to lead the Lions and was 6-of-15 passing for 54 yards.

Williams also managed 77 yards on 18 carries.

Pearce outgained the Lions 466-353 in total yardage.