LISBON — Some important halftime adjustments and the momentum fueled by a large homecoming crowd turned Saturday’s game against rival Oak Hill in Lisbon’s favor.

The Greyhounds scored 30 unanswered points in the second half to grab a 36-14 victory and move into second place in Campbell Conference Class D play. Lisbon is 4-1, Oak Hill is 3-2.

“This is a huge win,” said Lisbon quarterback Tyler Halls, who rushed for three touchdowns and passed for three conversions. “Our boosters put a lot of money into this game and we came through for them.”

The Greyhounds went to a double wing formation in the second half, which brought senior Kurtis Boulton into the backfield. Boulton was effective on sweeps, as was sophomore Lucas Francis, which in turn opened the middle for 280-pound fullback Noah Francis. It added up to a punishing ground attack which the Raiders couldn’t contain.

“They’re a physical team, they went to a different style offense and we just didn’t make the adjustments,” Oak Hill coach Stacen Doucette said. “They made the plays and we didn’t.”

The Greyhounds scored on their opening drive thanks to a 15-yard run from Lucas Francis and a pair of 15-yard penalties against the Raiders, one for a horse collar tackle and the other for a late hit. Lucas Francis scored from 4 yards out and the conversion appeared in doubt after the Greyhounds were assessed a 15-yard penalty. With the line of scrimmage at the 18-yard line, Halls lofted a pass which Tyrese Joseph caught in the end zone.

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The other telling adjustment for Lisbon came on defense. Oak Hill’s Steve Gilbert rushed for 179 yards on 10 carries in the first half, ripping off huge runs of 44 and 84 yards on counters over the left side. Coach Dick Mynahan flip-flopped his corners, replacing Lucas Francis on the left side with Halls.

“Tyler’s got a little more speed,” Mynahan said, “and he’s also a good athlete.”

Gilbert was held to 12 yards in the second half, a somewhat deceiving number since the Raiders were forced to pass once they fell behind. And they fell behind quickly as the Greyhounds held them on downs and drove 52 yards behind their trio of backs with Halls going over from the 1 to make it 20-14. Lucas Francis finished with 144 yards on 20 carries, while Noah Francis ran for 60 yards on 15 carries and Boulton 38 yards on five carries. Hall, who was particularly effective on third down, finished with 28 yards on 10 carries.

Oak Hill’s disastrous third quarter continued when quarterback Matthew Strout was pressured by Noah Francis in the backfield and his pass was picked off by linebacker Jared Glover, who returned it 45 yards for a score. Halls intercepted Strout in the fourth quarter and returned it 35 yards to set up another scoring drive which he finished himself with a 6-yard run.

The Raiders played a strong first half on offense and defense. Austin Noble scored from 3 yards out on their opening drive highlighted by Gilbert’s 44-yard burst off the left side. Gilbert scored from 84 yards out on a similar play in the second quarter. Also in the second period, the Raiders stopped Lisbon twice on fourth down, first from the 11 when Darryn Bailey tipped Hall’s pass away in the end zone and later when Halls was stopped on fourth-and-1 from the Lisbon 7.


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