ETNA – It wasn’t a pretty offensive game for the Etna Lions, but two touchdowns and solid defense was all it took to beat the Burney Raiders 13-6, and move to 2-0 in the Shasta Cascade League.

Although the rain had let up by the start of the varsity contest, several down pours during the day made the field a slippery mud bowl, contributing to multiple turnovers by the Lions—turnovers that thanks to the Lion defense didn’t lead to Burney scores.

The Lions moved the ball well their first two possessions but turned the ball over on downs in the red zone on the first drive, and fumbled away a scoring opportunity inside the Burney 5-yard-line on their second drive.

A bad snap on a Burney punt at the end of the first quarter led to the Lions taking possession on the Raider 2-yard-line, to start the second quarter. Etna took advantage of the gift and scored on third down, when Jordan Pehle-Munson punched it in from one-yard out. Taylor Pehle-Munson added the PAT, and the Lions led 7-0 with 10:42 left in the second quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Burney moved the ball down the field to the Etna 25-yard-line. But, a sack by Seth Jordan and Lucas Case pushed the Raiders back 10 yards. A delay of game penalty cost Burney another five yards. Eventually, the Lions took over on downs at their own 18.

Burney would threaten again on their next possession, moving as close as the Etna 14-yard-line, but the Lions defense stiffened and forced the Raiders to turn over the ball on downs.

Etna took a 7-0 lead into the locker room at half time.

The Raiders had trouble handling the second half kickoff around their own 10-yard-line, but managed to get control and return it to their own Raider 45. Burney moved to the Lion 48, before turning the ball over on downs, again.

It took the Lions two plays to score. First, Alex Case picked up 13 yards to move the ball into Raider territory at the 39. Then, Jordan Pehle-Munson raced 39 yards for a touchdown. A bad snap foiled the PAT attempt, and the Lions led 13-0.

On Burney’s next possession, Seth Jordan sacked the Raider QB, causing a fumble recovered by Lucas Case at the Burney 8-yard-line. The Lions, however, returned the favor on the next play with a fumble of their own.

Etna turned the ball over again on their next possession on an interception, giving Burney the ball at midfield. An encroachment penalty on the Lions moved the ball to the Etna 45. Then, the Lion defense came up big again, when Jordan and Gerardo Gonzalez recorded a sack for a 9-yard loss. The Raiders gave the ball back to Etna on downs, when they attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-15.

Etna took over on its own 46 and marched down the field to the Burney 5-yard-line, with big runs of 36 yards by Lucas Case, and 14 yards by Alex Case. On first-and-goal from the five, Lucas Case picked up four yards to the one. A delay of game penalty moved the Lions back to the six. Two plays later, the Lions fumbled away another opportunity. Etna also fumbled on their next possession, but Burney was still not able to take advantage.

The Raiders finally got on the board with 5:58 remaining in the game. Starting on their own 41, the Raiders connected on a 58-yard pass play to move to the Etna 5-yard-line. Two plays later, the Raiders were in the end zone. The 2-point conversion was stuffed by the Lions defense, and Etna led 13-6.

Burney attempted an onside kick, which went out of bounds, and the Lions took possession at their own 39. Etna moved to the Raider 28, but the drive stalled due to a couple of negative yardage running plays. The Lions elected to punt and Taylor Pehle-Munson dropped it in at the Burney 5-yard-line, with 2:11 left in the game.

The Raiders moved the ball out near the 30-yard-line, but Nic Schwall came up with an interception that appeared to ice the game for the Lions, with 1:30 remaining.

The Lions, however, continued their game-long generosity and promptly gave the ball back to the Raiders via another fumble.

With 1:15 left in the game, Burney started its drive on its 34-yard-line. Another huge sack by Jordan cost Burney seven yards. A tackle for a 2-yard loss on the next play gave the Lions the ball back on downs, with 24 seconds left. One kneel-down and it was over, with Etna winning 13-6.

The Lions (5-1) host the Modoc Braves (5-0) next Friday for homecoming.

The JV Lions dropped their game to the Burney JVs 14-6. Etna’s lone score came on an 80-yard kickoff return by Colby Rimmer.

Etna varsity stats will be posted when available.