The College Park QB asserted himself with his legs and gave the Lions fits.
Lions Knocking Off Rust, Drop Season Opener to College Park, THE WOODLANDS, September 1, 2012 - The 2012 Livingston Lions varsity football team went into Wood Forest Bank Stadium on Friday, August 31, 2012 to face the College Park Cavaliers and got a season opening wake up call. Head Coach, Randy Rowe had the Lions plenty motivated but the young students of the game found out the hard way that in addition to being motivated, they must stay focused and avoid mental errors. The two teams seemed pretty evenly matched and the Lion defense played good for the most part (even though College Park is actually a 5A team). The Lion defense stopped the run most of the time (note: MOST of the time). The small part of the time when the defense didn't stop the run was when the Lions got hurt the most. Several times during the game the Cavaliers' quarterback would run right through the Lion defense on quarterback keepers for long gainers. The Cavaliers also had an effective running back that would occasionally break one leaving the Lion defenders in his dust. That's how football is. Your defense can play really good most of the game, but it's that occasional missed tackle or blown assignment that's going to bite you. College Park scored first on a long pass play that resulted in a touchdown. Once the Cavaliers had the lead, the Lions were never quite able to catch up. It seems like everytime the Lions would get within a toucdown or two of catching the Cavaliers, then the Cavaliers would do something (or the Lions not do something) keeping the game out of reach for the Lions. Offensively, the Lions' Garrett Green (# 15 on the Highlight Reel) was the go to guy for the Lions. Green returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, and also scored on a 55 yard touchdown pass (in triple coverage) from quarterback Chevoski Collins. Defensively, I noticed Kade Burman spent a lot of time in the Cavalier backfield being disruptive. Collins appeared to injure his right leg in the 3rd quarter and never returned to the game and was replaced by Tyler Napier. I counted 2 turnovers against the Lions (one lost fumble and an interception). As I state every year when I do these little write ups. I don't have the stats, I'm going by memory. By the end of the game, it was Lions 21, Cavaliers 39. It's a loss that's enough for me. Let's look to our next game. The Dayton Broncos will be coming to Livingston this Friday night and I'm really looking forward to it. The Broncos have been a thorn in the side of Livingston for years and this would be a great time to exorcise an old demon. Of course, it helps if the we have a capacity crowd to cheer the Lions on.
Willie P. Openshaw
Garrett Green provided a spark for the Lions when he returned a kickoff 89 yards for a TD shortly before halftime keeping the Lions in the game.
Green received lots of attaboys from teammates following his kickoff return.
Green also hauled in a 55 yard touchdown pass in triple coverage.
The Cavalier running back was unsightly and rude to the Lions and their fans.
Lion defenders close in on the Cavalier QB.
Mr. Nasty (Deondre' Jackson) was used offensively a couple of times and was effective.
Kade Burman leaps to block a kick.
Burman (aka the Freak, aka Fatman) spent a good portion of his evening in the Cavalier backfield.
Running back Marquise Thomas crosses the goal line for a touchdown.
Quarterback Chevoski Collins stretches over the goal line for a successful 2 point coversion.
Marquise Thomas was an effective runner for the Lions.
Chevoski Collins operates out of The Shotgun.
Collins went down in the 3rd quarter.
Tyler Napier replaced Collins at quarterback.
Collins didn't return for the remainder of the game.
Lions dogpile the Cavalier QB.
Xavier Hutchinson carries the ball for the Lions.
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