Decorian Phillips + Liberty-Eylau Take Down Atlanta for First Win of the Season
[By JOSH RICHERT, Special to ETSN.fm]
ATLANTA — Liberty-Eylau notched its initial win of the season, handing Atlanta a 50-32 Homecoming loss Friday at Rabbit Stadium.
Ralph Crabtree rushed for three touchdowns for the Leoaprds, Decorian Phillips passed for three and ran for a fourth, and Dazawion Cooper made a dazzling catch over a Rabbit play in the end zone for a 32-yard score.
Safety Ken'Trell Chatmon had an interception that led to a touchdown, a fumble recovery that set up the Leopards at the Atlanta 27 for their first score, and he also returned a punt to set up a TD just before halftime.
Phillips finished 15 of 27 for 207 yards and rushed seven times for 42 yards and a 7-yard score. He also tossed a 2-point conversion.
Jawan King gashed the Liberty-Eylau defense for 247 yards on 25 carries, scoring twice. Kade Wood caught eight balls for 125 yards and a score for Atlanta, and quarterback Andrew Samples threw for 186 yards and ran for a TD.
Despite outgaining Liberty-Eylau, 222-165 in offensive yards in the first half, Atlanta trailed 20-12 at halftime.
The Leopards scored quickly after Chatmon's fumble recovery at the Rabb 27 on Atlanta's second possession. Kelston Joseph got them to first-and-goal with his 19-yard run, and two plays later El-Amin Greer caught a 4-yard touchdown from Phillips.
King had a 68-yard run for Atlanta to set up Dra Nelson's 13-yard scoring run.
Following a missed field goal by L-E and punts by each team, the Rabbs marched 71 yards on nine plays, King racing 38 yards before he scored from the 3 midway through the second quarter to give Atlanta a 12-7 lead.
In the final 3:28 of the half the Leopards regained the lead, using two defensive stops inside the Atlanta 12 and solid punt returns for short fields..
Dominique Williams' 18-yard return set up Mahleik Darty's 24-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown, and Chatmon's 26-yard return gave Liberty-Eylau possession at the Atlanta 24 again.
Crabtree had runs of 17 and 4 yards, the latter for the score on the third play of the drive. He rushed seven times for 53 yards and his three TDs.