GREENVILLE LIONS, ROYSE CITY TIED FOR THIRD IN 8-5A-II FOOTBALL STANDINGS

The Greenville Lions’ 49-38 win over North Forney on Friday moved them up in to a tie for third place in the District 8-5A-II football standings. The Lions, who are 3-2 overall, are now 2-1 in district play, tied for third place with Royse City. Royse City suffered its first loss of the season, 38-21 to Ennis, to drop into the tie for third with Greenville. The Bulldogs are also 2-1 in district play. Ennis and Corsicana share the district lead at 4-0. Sulphur Springs ranks fifth in the district standings at 1-2, followed by 1-3 North Forney, 1-3 Forney, 1-3 Terrell and 0-3 Kaufman. The top four teams will advance to the playoffs. Greenville travels to Terrell on Friday to take on the 1-5 Tigers, who are coached by Marvin Sedberry Jr., the son of former Lions head coach Marvin Sedberry Sr. The elder Sedberry is assisting his son as the boys athletic coordinator at Furlough Middle School in Terrell. An onside kick gamble paid off for the Lions in their win over North Forney. They’d just scored to cut the gap to 38-35 with 5:58 remaining when head coach Darren Duke elected to call for the onside kick on the advice of assistant coaches Alex Contreras and George Sellers. Tyrecus Davis recovered Zach Allen’s bouncing kick at the North Forney 45. Lester Turner scored two plays later on a 45-yard run for the Lions. Turner later added a 4-yard touchdown run to nail down the victory. Greenville finished with a season-high 585 yards of total offense including 395 rushing and 190 passing. Turner ran for 223 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Quarterback Brandon Stephens ran for 112 yards and one score on 19 carries and was 14-of-28 passing for 190 yards and two touchdowns, both to Caleb Johnson. Terrell opened district play with a 15-13 win over Sulphur Springs. The Tigers have lost their last three district games, 16-7 to Forney, 37-0 to Ennis and 42-7 to Corsicana. Royse City faces another tough challenge on Friday night against the district co-leader Corsicana, which is the defending district champion. Royse City’s spirits will get a boost from the homecoming crowd. Payton Petroff scored all three of Royse City’s touchdowns against Ennis on short runs. Ahmon Petty-Dozier set up two of the touchdowns with a 97-yard kickoff return and a 54-yard run. Other district games on Friday night will pit Ennis at Sulphur Springs and Kaufman at North Forney.

GREENVILLE LIONS, ROYSE CITY TIED FOR THIRD IN 8-5A-II FOOTBALL STANDINGS

Photo Credit: Greenville Athletics