News

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Three field goals from kicker Phil Dawson and running back Montario Hardesty’s one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter staked the Cleveland Browns out to a 16-7 halftime lead over the Green Bay Packers after the first half of Thursday night’s preseason game at Lambeau Field.

Dawson kicked his third field goal of the first half from 52 yards away and extended the team’s lead over the Packers to 16-7 with 1:19 remaining in the first half.

Dawson’s kick capped off a four-play, six-yard scoring drive which lasted for 57 seconds after wide receiver Jordan Norwood returned Tim Masthay’s punt for eight yards to Green Bay’s 40-yard line.

Hardesty gave the team a 13-7 lead over the Green Bay Packers with a one-yard touchdown run at the 14:55 mark of the second quarter of play.

Hardesty’s scoring run -- his first of the 2012 preseason -- finished off a six-play, 45-yard drive that took 2:28 off the game clock.

The Browns trailed the Packers, 7-6, after the first quarter.

Dawson’s 47-yard field goal drew the Browns to within one point of the Packers at 7-6 with 4:47 remaining in the first quarter. Dawson’s kick -- his second of the game -- capped off a four-play, three-yard scoring drive that was initiated by right defensive end Emmanuel Stephens’ fumble recovery.

The Browns stopped Green Bay’s second offensive drive of the preseason game when veteran defensive back Sheldon Brown stripped wide receiver Randall Cobb of the football after a six-yard reception.

Second-year defensive end Emmanuel Stephens caught the ball out of the air, turned upfield and returned the ball 40 yards to Green Bay’s 26-yard line, where the Browns started their next drive with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter.

A review of the play showed Stephens had stepped out of bounds after a 19-yard return, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was whistled against the Packers. The Browns started the ensuing drive at Green Bay’s 32-yard line.

The Packers had moved the ball from their own 24-yard line down to the Browns’ 40 before the turnover.

Earlier in the game, Dawson’s 53-yard field goal cut the Packers’ lead to 7-3 over the Browns with 8:43 remaining in the first quarter of play.

The Browns’ scoring drive started with back-to-back runs from Hardesty for 14 yards. Then, quarterback Brandon Weeden completed a 19-yard pass to fellow rookie, wide receiver Josh Gordon for a gain of 19 yards. Hardesty then carried three more times for a total of 12 yards, but the final part of the drive was marred by penalties.

On fourth-and-14 from Green Bay’s 30-yard line, Dawson lined up for a field goal, but the Packers committed a neutral zone infraction. When Dawson split the uprights from 43 yards away, Browns offensive lineman Oniel Cousins was whistled for a holding penalty.

Dawson shook off the penalty and again split the uprights to cap the scoring drive.

The Packers took an early 7-0 lead over the Browns with 13:57 remaining in the first quarter of play.

Facing a third-and-seven from the Browns’ 20-yard line, quarterback Aaron Rodgers dropped back and threw a pass to the right corner of the end zone where wide receiver Jordy Nelson caught the touchdown.

Veteran kicker Mason Crosby added the extra point.

The score was setup by a turnover on the Browns’ first offensive play of the game.

Hardesty gained four yards on the team’s first offensive play of the game against the Packers, but fumbled at the end of the play.

Hardesty was stripped of the football by Packers defensive back -- and Fremont, Ohio native -- Charles Woodson and right cornerback Casey Hayward recovered the turnover.

The Packers were setup with a first-and-10 from the Browns’ 23-yard line after the turnover.