Chiefs fall to Loris 53-14

By John Smithson

It was supposed to be the Battle of Highway 9. The Chiefs and Loris Lions had met for 54 times before last Friday night. The Lions had won 39 of those previous matchups, and the last three between the teams. The AAA Lions came into the game as the #4 team in the state.

The battle didn’t last very long at Heniford Field Friday night as the Lions played in their first home game of the season after three big wins on the road.

There was a flicker of hope early for the Chiefs. The opening kickoff went to Reo Stevenson and he took the ball to the Chiefs 31. An illegal procedure penalty moved the Chiefs back to the 26.

Stevenson ran for 4 yards and Jayden Wilson ran left for 10 more yards. Will McNeely’s first carry for four yards gave the Chiefs a first down on their 44 yardline. Stevenson ran for a yard and Wilson got four more yards, but Loris was called for a face mask penalty on Wilson’s run, giving the Chiefs a first down on the Loris 34.

On the next play Wilson took the handoff and sprinted down the left sideline into the end zone and the Chiefs led 7-0 after Nico Miller’s PAT with 8:43 on the clock. Maybe a battle after all?

The Chiefs kicked off to the Loris 20. Makel Lewis ran for a yard. Quarterback Moon Gerald saw an opening and ran 17 yards for a first down at his 37 but then lost 7 yards on a bad snap to the 30. Gerald then hit Grimm Lewis as he streaked by two Chief defenders, and he didn’t stop until he completed a 70 -yard play for a touchdown. The Chiefs blocked the PAT and still led 7-6 with 7:05 on the clock.

The Chiefs and Loris traded possessions and after yet another failed Chief offensive series, they punted to the Lions at the Chiefs 49 with 2:53 on the clock. Stephens ran for 25 yards and first down at the Chiefs 24. After a one-yard run by Moon and two incomplete passes, Loris had a fourth down at the 23. Gerald hit Mykhai Bell for a touchdown. Gerald ran the ball in for a two-point conversion and Loris was in front for good 14-7 and 1:31 remaining in the first quarter.

The Chiefs were three and out after the Loris kickoff and on the first play of the second quarter Miller punted back to Loris at their 29 yard-line.

A face mask penalty moved the Lions back to their 47. A 53 yard pass play to Roderick Purcha cured that problem and that touchdown increased the Lions lead to 21-7.

The Chiefs began their next series at their 20 on a touchback and  got a first down at their 33, but on a third and nine at their 34, McNeely’s pass was short of the intended receiver and intercepted by Khalil Sherman, who ran 43 yards for a touchdown and 28-7 Loris lead with 7:53 left in the half. Loris seemed in complete control.

The Chiefs next series was seven plays, and Miller’s punt was downed at the Loris 27. A Chiefs pass interference penalty and two Stephens runs moved the Loris ball to the Chiefs 46. Gerald threw yet another TD pass on the next play, this time to Khalid Sherman and a 34-7 lead with 3:00 left in the half.

The Chiefs again failed to move the ball after the Loris kickoff and a fourth down Miller punt was blocked and Loris took over at the Chiefs 5-yard line. Loris penalties nullified two scores, but Gerald finally hit Stephens with a 14-yard TD pass and the Lions led 40-7 at halftime.

Things did not improve for the Chiefs in the third quarter. They kicked off to the Lions at their 35. Loris moved to the Chiefs 49 on five plays. Moon Gerald then passed for 45 yards to Makel Stephens and first down at the Chiefs 4. Roderick Purcha ran it in from there and Loris built their lead to 46-7.

The Chiefs started on their 47 after the Loris kickoff with the aid of a face mask penalty. Six plays and two yards later Miller punted once again, this time to the Loris 19 yardline. Jay Dalton Todd replaced Moon Gerald at quarterback as Loris used subs. Todd and his offense moved from their 19 to their 43 before he passed 46 yards to Terrence Hardee and a first down at  the Chiefs 15. Two more runs by Todd scored another touchdown and gave the Lions a 53-7  lead.

Neither team threatened in their first possessions of the fourth quarter. The Chiefs last chance on offense came with 5:20 on the clock. Mason Walker, in at quarterback, began the Chiefs drive at their 47. After gaining one yard in three plays, Walker passed for 13 yards to Brayden Pagan and a first down at the Loris 33.

Two short runs only gained three yards, but Walker’s next pass was good for a touchdown to Jaden Chestnut. The Chiefs had scored on the first and last possessions of the game and Loris had the 53-14 victory.

Walker ended the day with 7 for 7 passing and 70 yards. Jayden Wilson carried nine times for 50 yards and one touchdown. Moon Gerald was 8 for 10 for 346 yards and five touchdowns in a very impressive performance for the Lions.

The Chiefs are on the road Friday night at Marlboro County, hoping to bounce back against the Bulldogs.