Published: November 03, 2009 12:26 am      

Lions face incentives in season finale

GREENVILLE — A 6-4 final record.

That’ll be one of the main incentives for the Greenville Lions when they entertain the 4-5 Rockwall Yellowjackets during Friday night’s football season finale at T.A. “Cotton” Ford Stadium.

Greenville can finish with its first winning record since 2003. After going 7-4 that year, the Lions have finished at 1-9 in 2004, 3-7 in 2005, 3-7 in 2006, 3-7 in 2007 and 2-8 in 2008.

Both teams are out of the playoff picture as Highland Park, Newman Smith, Rockwall-Heath and Richardson Pearce have locked up the four playoff berths. Greenville and Rockwall are tied for fifth place at 2-4 so the winner of the game will hold fifth place by itself.

Greenville’s playoff chances ended with a 43-22 loss at Richardson Pearce on Friday night. The Lions jumped out to a 22-0 lead in the second quarter but couldn’t hold off the Mustangs’ mighty offense from that point on.

“The second half they (the Mustangs) just went to a different level,” said Lions coach Jim Phillips. “Our kids didn’t match it.”

Greenville outgained the Mustangs 248-221 in total yardage in the first half but were outgained 245-105 in the second half.

“They got us at the line of scrimmage,” said Phillips. “They were bigger than we were. They were stronger than we were.”

Greenville quarterback Alton Dennis led the Lions, rushing for 114 yards on 16 carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run, and was 6-of-15 passing for 54 yards. Dennis also played most of the game on defense at strong safety. Phillips said Dennis played well on both sides of the ball.

Dennis upped his season rushing total to 1,164 yards and nine touchdowns on 134 carries. He ranks among the leading 4A rushers in the Metroplex and ranks second in 10-4A.

The senior is also 56-of-114 passing for 777 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Devonte Green led the Lion receivers against J.J. Pearce with four catches for 41 yards, upping his season total to 29 catches for 474 yards and two TDs.

Running back Dakieston Williams picked up 77 yards on 18 carries, scoring on bursts of 3 and 32 yards. Williams has now rushed for 638 yards and 11 TDs on 106 carries this season.

The Lions will be facing the leading rusher in 10-4A in Rockwall running back Josh Broach, who’s pounded out 1,258 yards and 19 touchdowns on 180 carries.

Broach rushed for 358 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries during the Yellowjackets’ 63-42 loss to Highland Park on Friday night. Broach’s touchdown runs covered 90, 43, 26 and 60 yards.

“We’ve got to tackle Broach,” said Phillips.

The Lions will be getting one of their top tacklers off the injured list. Returning all-district linebacker Tristian Farley missed last week’s game after suffering a concussion and a neck sprain during the Lions’ 42-16 victory over R.L. Turner in the previous game.

Phillips said getting Farley back will help a Lion defense that gave up 222 yards rushing last week, 64 more than the season average.

The Lions are facing a quarterback, Adam Dingwell, who has thrown for 1,524 yards and eight touchdowns.

Will Beasley has been the Yellowjackets’ top receiver with 38 catches for 746 yards and four touchdowns but has been injured, according to Phillips.

Rockwall finished with 512 yards of total offense against Highland Park, including 453 rushing, but gave up 593. Highland Park quarterback Luke Woodley was 24-of-28 passing for 430 yards and five touchdowns against the Yellowjackets.

Phillips has been talking to the Lions this week about getting that winning record and also finishing on a strong note.

“If we’ll just focus and play,” he said. “They don’t finish out.”