JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Your Lyon College fighting Scots earned their first win of the season over taking the Illinois College Blue Boys 21-14 in Jacksonville, IL. The Scots broke a 14-14 tie with a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that started late in the third quarter and ended early in the fourth. The defense added three takeaways, with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, while Illinois Col. went 0-for-2 on fourth down.
The Scots got most of their first-quarter production through the air, with
Grayson Johnson completing 6 of 8 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown, including a 76-yard scoring pass to
Jace Birkes on the opening drive. Illinois Col. had 45 passing yards and 19 rushing yards, went 1-for-5 on third down and missed a 37-yard field goal after a fumble return set it up at the Scots 20, leaving the Scots ahead 7-0 after the quarter.
Illinois Col. outscored the Scots 7-0 in the second quarter and held advantages in first downs (8-4) and time of possession (8:58-6:02). The Scots limited the damage after an interception, stopping Illinois Col. on fourth down at the Lyon 17 yard line with tackles from
Jason Crawford Jr. and
Brayson Littell making the difference. With the score kept tied 7-7, Scots moved 62 yards before the quarter ended.
The Scots matched Illinois Col. with seven points in the third quarter, using
Zander Week's sack and
Jaden Foster's fumble recovery to set up
Grayson Johnson's 1-yard touchdown run. The Scots produced 47 rushing yards and 53 passing yards in the quarter, converted their only fourth-down try late in the period and entered the fourth tied 14-14.
In the fourth, Scots scored the quarter's only points on
Grayson Johnson's 5-yard pass to
Javarion Williams and
Jesus Romero-Castillo's PAT at 14:04, and the 21-14 score held as the final. Lyon's defense then stopped the Blue Boys final drive with
Noah Benton and Littell making the first tackle. Illinois Col. threw for 77 yards in the fourth, but the Scots' defense forced two interceptions with
Clarence Mucherson and
Kartez Simon getting the picks.
Grayson Johnson completed 15 of 24 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns and added 34 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Birkes caught three passes for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Javarion Williams added six receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown, along with a 16-yard punt return. Littell recorded 11 tackles for the Scots.
Your Scots will be back in action this coming Saturday, September 19th at 3:30 PM in Bad Boy Mowers Stadium facing off against the Greenville College Panthers.
