Go Friday Night

CISCO -- Albany's power running game took control from the start Saturday night and the Lions cruised to a 53-7 victory over the Ranger Bulldogs.

Robert Hare rushed for 223 yards and four touchdowns as Albany (2-0) amassed 484 total yards in the final game of the Chesley Field Fall Football Classic. Quarterback Taylor Riley added two touchdown passes for the Lions, while Jason Brothers and Eli Brown added rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

The Lions averaged better than 7.5 yards per carry with nine different players getting at least one rushing attempt.

"We've got a couple of big running backs and some guys who run hard," Albany coach Denney Faith said. "Our offensive line is starting to come together. If we can keep running the ball like that, we feel good about ourselves."

Former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek presided over the opening coin toss and presented representatives of each school with plaques commemorating their participation in the weekend event.

Ranger (1-1) was without quarterback Ryan Draper, who suffered an eye injury on Friday. In his place, T.J. Schaefer, normally a running back, was 4-of-10 passing for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Ranger coach Tooter Draper, also the quarterback's father, said the injury forced the Bulldogs to junk their offensive game plan.

"We pretty much changed the whole of what we were trying to do," the elder Draper said. "We had a game plan and we had to get away from it. We'd worked on some things and we just couldn't do them.

"(Schaefer) came in and did a great job. I'm really proud of him. He played real well, but we had to change our game plan and that hurt us."

The Bulldogs' injury problems continued when lineman Giovani Elizondo was helped off with a leg injury in the third quarter.

"We haven't had any injuries (before this week," Draper said. "We've been real healthy. I think (Elizondo) took a hit and that happens."

Ranger's problems contributed to the Albany defense allowing just 126 total yards and five first downs, but Faith said the Lions still had to work for it.

"We've been playing long enough to know that (Schaefer's) getting reps, too," he said. "We know Ryan not getting to play was a big blow for them, but their kids came out and played hard and tried to rally around the other guy and help him along. They played hard."

Hare's first two touchdowns on runs of 6 and 1 yards gave Albany a 13-0 lead before Ranger's passing game got the Bulldogs on the board. Schaefer connected with Tyler Tortomasi for a 23-yard score to cap an eight-play, 80-yard drive. The duo also hooked up for a 47-yard gain on the possession.

The Lions pulled away with two touchdowns in the final 30 seconds of the first half. Hare's third score of the night put Albany ahead 19-7. Two plays after the kickoff, Jason Brothers returned an interception 49 yards to the Ranger 18 with nine seconds remaining and Taylor Riley found Kelby Vaughn in the end zone as time expired.

Riley, who was 2-of-5, found Bruce Holson for a 42-yard score to open the third quarter and Hare wrapped up his night with a 36-yard score on the next series.

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