Mars Hill prevails over Limestone on Homecoming

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill football team (4-3, 3-2 SAC) defeated Limestone (2-5, 1-4 SAC) by a score of 35-28 on a rainy Saturday afternoon to earn the win on Homecoming.

Jimmy Urzua threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for two.  Elijah Jett collected 157 yards on the ground on 25 carries.  Tyler Ferguson led the Lions with 102 yards receiving, followed by Craig Rucker's 81 yards on 10 catches.  Dexter Fitzpatrick led all players with 16 tackles.  Cameron Wrice, Jaden King, and Carl Robertgeau each pulled down one interception while Earl Adams had four tackles and four quarterback hurries.

The game-winning drive concluded with 3:23 left in the contest as Rucker hauled in a four-yard pass from Urzua to put the Lions up 34-28.  Tanner Fox's extra point attempt was good to give the Lions the seven-point edge in the final few minutes of play.

Limestone struck first with 5:15 gone in the opening quarter.  Jerko'ya Patton pounded the ball in from three yards out to give the Saints the early 7-0 lead.  The Lions tied it up with one minute to play in the opening stanza as Rucker scored on a two-yard rush.

The Lions took their first lead of the day with 8:30 left in the first half as Urzua faked the handoff and sprinted to his left for 11 yards to put the Lions up 14-7.  Mars Hill extended their lead with 5:13 left in the half.  The three-play drive that lasted 51 seconds was capped off by Prince Cowart's 10-yard reception.

The Saints rallied back, scoring twice in the first 9:43 of the third quarter.  Juwan Scott's 18-yard reception pulled the contest within seven.  With 5:17 to play in the third frame, Quay Brown pulled in a 59-yard touchdown pass from DJ Phillips to tie the game at 21.  With less than 20 seconds in the third, Urzua's quarterback sneak allowed the Lions to regain the lead heading into the final 15 minutes of play.

Patton's two-yard run tied the game once again with 7:24 left to play in regulation.

The Lions garnered 525 yards of offense in the contest while the Lions defense forced three turnovers.  Mars Hill returns to action on Saturday, October 26th when they take on Catawba on the road.