The defense came through for the Vinton Lions on Thursday in a 6-6 tie against Merryville at the DeQuincy Jamboree.
Senior Patrick Williams picked off Merryville quarterback Austin Moore to stop the Panthers on a late drive and John Paul Pickett had two near interceptions. D.J. Reed deflected a pass that ended the Panthers final attempt at winning the game and Nick Olier came up with a sack that stopped Merryville’s first drive of the second half.
“I knew that they would be pretty decent because we have the size on the line that we did not have last year,” Vinton head coach Wendell LeJeune said. “Our linebackers played better.
“Our defensive backs made a lot of tackles which they are supposed to. We are pushing things outside for them. Shawn Fenetz and John Paul Pickett made a bunch of real good tackles after covering people.”
Although the game does not count, it is the first time the Vinton Lions have not found themselves on the losing end of the score since Week 7 of the 2008 season when they beat Kinder 9-0.
The Lions lost 20-0 to Merryville in the Vinton Jamboree last year.
The Lions offense struggled during the first half with their first drive ending with a punt on third down and 35 on their own 14-yard line.
The Lions had gained a first down at their own 49-yardline on a seven yard run by starting quarterback Joe Prince but then lost 21 yards on two bad snaps and another 14 yards on an unsportsmanlike penalty.
Merryville came up empty on their first drive of the game but then mounted an 11-play drive on their next possession ending with Moore connecting with Caleb Branch for an eight-yard touchdown.
The Lions had to punt on the opening possession of the second half but the offense finally found their grove on the next drive.
Junior tailback Dieon Sonnier started the drive with a 14-yard carry for just the second first down of the game for the Lions.
Their biggest play of the game came on a third and nine situation from midfield. Backup quarterback Jeffery Fontenot tossed up a pass to junior wide receiver Jarrod Anderson who pulled it down for a 31-yard gain.
A pass interference call on the next play against the Panthers put the Lions on Merryville’s 15-yardline.
Four plays later on fourth and five, Fontenot found Anderson in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown.
