MOBILE, Ala. — The Robertsdale Golden Bears were unable to add a game to their win column despite a third-quarter rally against the Williamson Lions at Ladd Peebles Stadium. The Lions topped the Bears 28-14 on Friday.

The game looked like it would be a runaway after the Lions scored on the third play from scrimmage and then went into halftime leading 21-0.

The Bears’ offense managed to drive near the Lions’ red zone in two subsequent attempts in the first quarter, but twice turned the ball over on downs and then followed up those two possessions with two fumbles. Meanwhile, Robertsdale’s defense didn’t seem to have an answer for groundwork of Williamson wide receiver Brandon Peters or running back Lebaron Lett.

But in the third quarter, the Bears owned the clock and the scoreboard, expending more than seven minutes during their initial, 16-play possession, and capping the drive with a one-yard touchdown by Alphonso Stewart. During the kickoff return, the Bears recovered a Williamson fumble at the Lions’ 48, and used another three minutes to return the end zone. Quarterback Hunter Vaughn accounted for a large part of the Bears’ offense, being forced out of the passer’s pocket and into running down field. A 13-yard touchdown run by Vaughn brought the Bears within seven points of the Lions with 3:19 to play in the third.

Going into the fourth, it looked like the Bears might tie the game after they forced Williamson to three-and-out, and then drove to the Lions’ 5 yard line. But a dropped pass on fourth down led to a Robertsdale turnover, and then the Lions drove 95 yards to pad their lead to 28-14.

Robertsdale Head Coach Scott Phelps said the team has been slow-starting all year, which lends to its 0-3 record.

“There were two different halves; the first quarter and the third quarter,” Phelps said after the game. “The first quarter, we were not physical on defense and on the offense, when we got inside the 30, we just couldn’t make plays.

“In the third quarter we dominated. The defense played well and the offense scored inside the 30. And when you’re behind 21-0 it makes everything more extreme. When we were down 21-14 and we got within the 5 yard line and didn’t score, the momentum turned and they went back to running the ball and we couldn’t stop them.”

Phelps said the home game against Satsuma next Friday wouldn’t be any easier, and the team could expect the same kind of challenge right out of the gate.

“That’s been our problem, we’re slow starting,” Phelps said. “You got to make every play and we didn’t make every play. But our kids didn’t lay down, they came out and fought and gave us a chance to win the ballgame so we have to build on that.”

The Bears face the winless Satsuma at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at J.D. Sellars Stadium in Robertsdale.