Published: October 31, 2009 12:58 am      

Lions stroll into playoff semis

Daniel Pierce scored twice on returns and threw a touchdown pass to Mason Sikes, leading the Christian Heritage Lions to a 56-8 rout of the Bartow Generals in the first round of the Glory for Christ Football League postseason playoffs.

The Lions (8-1) advance to the semifinals against the Dominion Christian-Holy Ground Academy winner. That game will be played at 3:45 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Riverwood High School in Atlanta.

Christian Heritage is the defending league champion, having won 12 consecutive games for the 2008 title.

“I don’t know who we’ll be playing, although I anticipate Dominion Christian,” Lions coach Mike Vaden said after Friday’s game. “We do know we’ll be in for a real battle next week. Christian Heritage defeated Dominion Christian, 27-12, on Sept. 4.

After Terrell Wilson got the Lions’ scoring started on a 19-yard run in the first quarter, Pierce returned a punt 58 yards for his first touchdown of the game. The extra point failed and the Lions led, 13-0.

Still in the first quarter, Pierce intercepted a Bartow pass and galloped 85 yards for a touchdown. Nick Jang’s extra point gave the Lions a 20-0 advantage.

In the second quarter, Pierce connected with Mason Sikes on a 28-yard touchdown strike, and Pierce ran for a two-point conversion and a 28-0 lead.

Sikes added a 30-yard scoring run on a reverse and Jang’s extra point made it 35-0.

Wilson scored again in the fourth quarter on a 45-yard run, Ethan Turnmire scored on a 4-yard scamper and Austin Lowe capped the Lions’ scoring with a 15-yard run in the fourth quarter.

“I was real pleased with our defense tonight,” Vaden said. “We faced a big team, but our kids did an outstanding job. It was our best hitting in the second half of the season.”