By Austin Bishop
The Star Herald
WEIR —
On paper, things don't look too promising for Weir High School football. The Lions dropped a 40-14 decision to Eupora on Thursday night, giving Weir back-to-back games where it has given up 40-plus points.
However, second-year Weir head football coach Danya Turner isn't too much concerned with what things look like on paper, it's on the field that matters to him.
The Lions, who gave up 35 second-half points in a 42-0 season-opening to Hamilton two weeks ago, fell behind Eupora 24-0 in the early going before rallying back to cut it to 24-14 in the middle of the third quarter.
"We showed some growth from last week to this week," Turner said. "Because last week when we got down they put their heads down. But we didn't stop fighting (against Eupora), and that's all you can do."
Weir, which is now 0-2, has two weeks before it returns to action on Sept. 10 when Thomastown pays a visit for the Lions' Region 3-1A opener. That will be the first of three crucial games for the Lions in September, which sees Weir visiting Edinburg on Sept. 17 and hosting Ethel on Sept. 24.
"This is a new season for us," Turner said. "They are all pride games, but what really counts for us are our district games."
Eupora rushed for 225 yards and compiled 298 yards of total offense, while holding Weir to just 31 total rushing yards.
Eupora scored on an 18-yard run by Lazerick Davis in the first quarter and tacked on a pair of touchdowns on a 3-yard run by Vandy Smith and a 2-yard run by Davis to go up 24-0 with 3:10 left in the second quarter.
Weir roared back down the field behind the passing of J.R. Hall to score on a 1-yard run by Jimarrian Woodard to cut it to 24-6 at the half. The big plays in the drive were a 20-yard pass from Hall to tight end Mario Hemphill and a 35-yard toss from Hall to Rashad Carter.
"We really had some success passing the ball," Turner said. "We saw some things and took advantage of it."
Hall, who hit on 8-of-14 passes for 157 yards on the night, connected with Carter on a 50-yard scoring strike with 5:23 left in the third quarter to cut Eupora's lead to 24-14 after Woodard ran in the two-point conversion.
However, Eupora answered just three plays later with Deshawn Starks scoring on an 18-yard run to put the Eagles back up 32-14. Eupora added its final touchdown in the fourth quarter when Smith scored on a 13-yard run.
