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By Sonny Jones

Elizabethtown native Larrell Murchison had the best game of his NFL career Sunday as the Los Angeles Rams trounced the Denver Broncos 51-14.

The East Bladen High School graduate had two sacks against Denver quarterback Russell Wilson, the first of his career, and was credited with a career-best four tackles before leaving the game in the fourth quarter because of a neck injury, according to the team.

Murchison’s final line, according to the NFL’s Game Book, was four unassisted tackles, two sacks for a loss of 18 yards, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits. There was talk during the broadcast that Murchison was credited with 2 1/2 sacks, but that was changed to two sacks in the official statistics.

Murchison’s play Sunday drew notice from CBS announcers Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson as well as on Twitter.

Back-to-back sacks! ?@MHoecht96 + @Murchboy92

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 25, 2022

Hell of a Rams debut for Larrell Murchison – 2.5 sacks, 2 TFL – but he’s walking off the field under his own power with athletic trainers.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) December 26, 2022

Turn Up Murch!!!

— Jeff Addo (@JAddo301) December 25, 2022

I cut Larrell Murchison from my Madden team yesterday. He’s a 64 overall.

He has two sacks today for the Rams.

— RK (@RyanKoenigsberg) December 25, 2022

Larrell Murchison has been with the team for 45 minutes and already has 2 sacks today

— Sosa Kremenjas (@QBsMVP) December 25, 2022

Murchison’s first sack came with 3:27 remaining in the first quarter when he went behind the defensive tackle on a stunt and tripped up Wilson for a 9-yard loss. His second sack came with 8:01 remaining in the second quarter when he beat blockers and got to Wilson for another 9-yard loss.

He was credited with tackles on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter before going to the locker room to be evaluated for a neck injury. The first tackle came against L Murray on a 1-yard run up the middle. The second tackle came on Wilson as he scrambled up the middle for a 2-yard gain.

Murchison, who is 25 years old, was claimed off waivers by the Rams two weeks ago after he was let go by the Tennessee Titans. The 6-foot-2, 297-pound defensive lineman was drafted by Tennessee in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft after playing two seasons at N.C. State. He also played two seasons at Louisburg Junior College after graduating from East Bladen High in 2016.

Murchison played in 26 games over three seasons with Tennessee, including five starts in 2021. He had 15 career tackles, including two tackles for loss, during his time with the Titans.

Murchison did not play for the Rams at Green Bay on Dec. 26, but was in the lineup Sunday. Defensive linemen Aaron Donald and Marquise Copeland did not play Sunday because of ankle injuries.

Los Angeles is 5-10 and has been eliminated from qualifying for the playoffs this season. The Rams, who won the Super Bowl last season, are scheduled to play at the Los Angeles Chargers on New Year’s day, then end the season Jan. 8 at Seattle.