Lions rush to Jamboree win

The King’s Academy junior Tyler McDaniel scored a pair of touchdowns and picked off a pass in the red-zone to thwart a Tennessee School for the Deaf drive and help lead the Lions to a 12-0 victory in the Knoxville Orthopedic Jamboree at Neyland Stadium Friday night. McDaniel scored on runs of two and 19 yards, amassing 53 yards on six carries, and sophomore Lane Beam added 45 yards on just five carries as the Lions’ ground game stole the show in the team’s first action of the season. “I’m real pleased with how the jamboree went,” said Lions coach Larry Watson. “Our option was working pretty good for us. We had four running backs who showed real promise and we were pleased with that.” McDaniel, who was one of five Lion defenders with two stops each on the night, provided the defensive highlight when he stepped in front of a TSD pass at his team’s 12-yard line, preserving the shutout. Beam, Andy Scalf, Jonathan Foust and Matt Rose also had big games for the Lions’ defense. “Defensively, we got a pick and I was pleased with that. I’m happy that we got what we were looking for out of the experience of playing at the jamboree,” Watson added. The Lions will host Grace Baptist Friday at 7 p.m. for their home season opener. After playing in the jamboree in an eight-on-eight format, the Lions will be in the usual 11-on-11 mode come Friday night. “Grace is a school that we’ve never played and we have no film on them but we know that they run about the same formations as we do,” said Watson.