Lions fall late to Rams in season opener
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill football team (0-1) was defeated by Winston-Salem State (1-1) by a score of 28-25 Saturday night in their 2025 season opener inside the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium.
With just over 30 seconds to play, trailing by four, JaQuan Kelly punched in a one-yard run to give the Rams the 27-25 lead. The extra point that followed extended the lead to three. Moments before Kelly's touchdown, Daylin Lee connected with Kale Washington for a 31-yard pass that Washington leapt for, tiptoeing in-bounds to set the Rams up for the eventual game-winning drive.
The Rams opened the scoring 5:16 into the contest with the first of several Lee-Washington connections. With 5:24 left in the quarter, Lon Teachey put the Lions on the board with a 32-yard field goal.
Just over two minutes later, JR Martin found David Hargro for 55-yards and the first touchdown of the Lions' season.
Following a scoreless second half, Mars Hill entered the third quarter up 10-7.
Winston-Salem State struck twice in the third as Kelly scored the first of his two one-yard rushing touchdowns just 1:41 into the quarter. With 1:36 remaining in the third, Lee found Timothy Ruff for a four-yard touchdown pass.
Mars Hill cut the deficit down to three after Jon Gullette's 13-yard rush followed by Hargro's catch on the two-point conversion. With 2:05 left to play and defenders draped all over him, Charlie Guinade hauled in a 17-yard pass from Martin to give the Lions the late 25-21 lead.
Mars Hill outgained Winston-Salem State 432-300 as Martin threw for 267 yards on 20 completions. Gullette led all players with 122 rushing yards on 17 carries, averaging 7.2 yards per rush. Hargro led all receivers with 82 yards on three catches.
Steven Reid led the Lions' defense with 12 tackles followed by Isaac Weaver's 10 on the night.
Mars Hill opens South Atlantic Conference play on Saturday, September 13 when they host Carson-Newman in game two of their four-game homestand. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
