NASHVILLE —
Berrien running back Devonte Bass rushed for 184 yards and three total touchdowns to push the Rebels past the Lanier County Bulldogs 41-6 Friday night at Raymond Jones Memorial Field.
The Rebels earned their second consecutive win while the Bulldogs picked up their second loss of the year.
“I’m just proud of the way the kids have been practicing and it’s shown the last two Fridays," Berrien head coach Rob Armstrong said. “We did a good job moving the ball, and I think our defense is getting better. We know it only gets tougher. We just got to keep getting better every day. The kids did a great job.”
Berrien took no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring a touchdown on its first offensive possession.
Following a 25-yard run by Bass to start the drive that tallied 75 yards, the senior running back finished off the drive with a 34-yard rushing touchdown.
After the Rebels went up 7-0 midway through the first quarter, the Bulldogs tried to respond.
Lanier County freshman running back Keith Sims fumbled near midfield after picking up back-to-back first downs.
Bass, who plays defensive back as well for the Rebels, recovered the loose ball and returned it all the way back for a touchdown.
Berrien took a 13-0 lead with just three minutes left in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs cut into the lead on the ensuing drive.
Sims recorded 57 of his 94 first half rushing yards, capping off the Bulldogs' 70-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.
The Rebels again, connecting on all cylinders, scored on their third-straight drive.
Bass and Taylor Griner combined for 44 yards on the drive before quarterback Shawn Witt ran into the end zone untouched on a 10-yard scramble.
The night didn’t get much better for the Bulldogs, who turned over the ball on the following kickoff.
The mishandled ball was recovered by Berrien, setting up a first down in scoring position.
Griner, who finished the game with 105 rushing yards, extended the Rebels' lead to 21 points (27-6) with a 15-yard rushing touchdown.
It was still all Berrien after halftime.
The running back tandem of Bass and Griner went back to work.
The duo had big runs. Each had over 20 yards on the drive that ended when Bass picked up his third touchdown of the game.
“We’re real good together. We got a real good combination," Bass said. "He runs the ball good and I run the ball good. It feels good to win. If we keep working hard we’re going to keep winning."
Bass got in the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown run when he shot through a hole in the secondary.
The Rebels sat comfortably with a 34-6 lead early in the third quarter.
The score remained the same until Berrien tacked on more to their dominating lead minutes into the fourth quarter.
The Rebel running back duo continued their great performance, driving the Rebels to complete yet another successful drive.
Griner, after running for a couple first downs, punched in a 5-yard touchdown run to put the game out of reach — if it already wasn’t.
The Rebels ended the game with 28-unanswered points.
Local Sports
Berrien routs Lanier, 41-6
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VSU eliminated
Valdosta State softball’s bid for a national title repeat came up short this season.
The Blazers were eliminated from the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament Saturday with a 7-5 loss in nine innings to Armstrong Atlantic University, a school based off the Georgia coast in Savannah. -
Win or go home
The Valdosta State softball team faces Armstrong Atlantic University in an elimination game for the 2013 Division II Softball Championship Tournament today at noon.
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HOOPER: An early look at the 2013 football season
I haven’t written a column in quite some time, largely because there has been so much going on and we haven’t always had the space, nor have I felt up to it after writing so many other stories.
But today, I am writing this column and taking up the inches in the daily sports section and giving a little love to the upcoming football season. -
Blazers fall to Molloy in eight innings
With only one out remaining and trailing by three, the Molloy Lions strung together four hits to plate three runs in the seventh followed by another run in the eighth inning to defeat Valdosta State’s softball team 5-4 in the first round of the 2013 Division II Softball National Championship Tournament on Thursday in Salem, Va.
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Albritton, Johnson earn All-America honors
Valdosta State softball players Courtney Albritton and Morgan Johnson gathered multiple All-America honors late Wednesday night.
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Golfers take course for Wounded Warriors
Local patrons participated in the Wounded Warrior Project Golf Tournament at Stone Creek Golf Club in Valdosta on Thursday.
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Valwood football hosting 4-man scramble golf tourney
Head coach Ashley Henderson and the Valwood football team will be hosting a 4-man scramble golf tournament at Valdosta Country Club Friday, June 14.
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VHS football cheerleaders to host Junior Cheer Camp
The Valdosta High School football cheerleaders will be hosting a Junior Cheer Camp June 5 through June 7 at the W.G. Nunn Elementary School gymnasium.
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Gillespie, McPherson pleased with spring practices
Valdosta’s Rance Gillespie and Lowndes’ Randy McPherson both think their football teams got better during the recent 10 days of spring practice.
Then again, both coaches know their teams have a ways to go before the start of the football season. -
Signing day at VHS
It was signing day galore at Valdosta High School Wednesday.
Six student-athletes signed national letter of intents to compete at the next level, while two VHS athletes both signed academic scholarships to Division I universities. - More Local Sports Headlines
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