CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- If there was one aspect more impressive than Red Bank's spectacular playmaking ability on offense Thursday night, it was the opportunistic defense that created those scoring chances.
The Lions forced five turnovers -- including a fumble recovery for a touchdown -- made a goal-line stand early to set the tone and had a pair of fourth-quarter sacks that put an exclamation point on their 35-12 nonregion win at Cleveland in the season opener for both teams.
"We're going to play defense," Red Bank's Ted Gatewood said emphatically after winning his debut as head coach of his alma mater. "That's where you're going to win games. That's what's always been done here, and we're going to continue that tradition.
"Our kids thrive on that. They want to set that tone and live up to that standard. I've got a pocket full of notes of things to correct, but to come on the road to start a season against a tough Cleveland team and play the way we did, this is going to help us so much in the long run."
The Lions forced a fumble on Cleveland's first possession, then took the lead for good seven plays later on AD Crutcher's 8-yard run in which he dove for the final 2 yards, reaching the ball across the goal line before landing.
The Blue Raiders responded with an 11-play drive to reach the Lions' 2-yard line, but Red Bank's defense made a fourth-down stand. After Cleveland had cut the deficit to 7-5 with a field goal and safety, Jake Brune -- making his first start at quarterback for the Lions -- connected with Daune Morris on a hitch-and-go touchdown pass that covered 43 yards.
Again Cleveland rallied to within two on an Isaiah Davis 4-yard run, but after forcing another fumble, this time with just 24 seconds to go in the second quarter, the Lions cashed in when Morris made a leaping catch at the 3-yard line then dove into the end zone just before the end of the half.
"We needed a big play," Morris said. "It was third down and late and we had to move the ball downfield, so I was just trying to go up and make a play.
"This was special for us because last year they beat us, so we wanted to come out and dominate."
Red Bank's defense, which held the Blue Raiders to 112 rushing yards (3.3 per carry), forced a third fumble late in the third quarter, and this time Cordell Howard recovered in the end zone for a 28-12 lead. Morris then put the game away with a 49-yard sprint to the end zone midway through the fourth quarter.
Morris finished with 177 total yards (10 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown, and four catches for 94 yards and two scores), while Brune was 6-of-9 passing for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
"Jake has done a great job getting ready," said Gatewood, an assistant for the Lions the past three seasons who has been a head coach at East Hamilton and Ooltewah. "He's been a backup to two really good quarterbacks and learned, and when it was his turn, he's ready. He's got a great arm and won't do things that could jeopardize us.
"Daune's going to go make plays because he's got a lot of talent and is such a competitor. We've got several guys like that who will have their turn to step up and make plays on both sides of the ball."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.