CARTERVILLE — Next year the Carterville Lions will be switching divisions in the Southern Illinois River to River Conference, moving from the Mississippi to the Ohio. The Lions clinched at least a share of the Mississippi football title in their final season with a 28-7 win over Nashville.

Carterville can clinch the title outright at home against Pinckneyville in two weeks.

Lions senior Bryce Smith rushed for 214 yards, and fellow senior Andrew Hellriegel accounted for four touchdowns, two rushing and two passing. The story of the night, though, was the Carterville defense. After Nashville grabbed the lead on JT Malawy’s 37-yard touchdown pass to Carson Cook early in the second, the Lions put the clamps on the Hornets, forcing four second half turnovers.

Hellriegel scampered 51 yards on a 4th and 1 to tie the game at 7-7. Then with less than a minute to go in the half, Hellriegel found Nolan Hartford for a 30-yard touchdown pass on 3rd and 19 to give the Lions a 14-7 lead at the break.

In the third quarter, following a Hornets’ fumble, Smith’s 36-yard gain set up Hellriegel’s third touchdown of the night, a 2-yard run. Then early in the fourth, the Lions put it away on a Hellriegel to Blake Burkey 12-yard TD pass.

The Lions improve to 6-0 (3-0), clinching a playoff spot with their sixth win. The Hornets fall to a 4-2 (1-1). Next week, Carterville steps out of conference play to face Madison Saturday at 1:00. Nashville will make the short trek south on Route 127 to face Pinckneyville.