Lowndes Stuffs Stephenson in 14-0 Shutout!
This year, the Vikings theme was “one game at a time.” After their 14-0 shutout of Stephenson in the Georgia Dome, the Vikings only have one more game, against the Brookwood Broncos, separating them from the 2005 AAAAA State Title. Lowndes’ defeat of Stephenson was their second straight Georgia Dome victory, and sends them to their second straight State Championship game, this one being played at Martin Stadium.

The beginning of the first quarter was a defensive struggle, as neither team could make long strides downfield. However, with 1:50 remaining in the opening quarter, Darriett Perry changed that. The Viking offensive line punched a huge hole for Perry to slip through, allowing him to dash past the Stephenson defenders for the touchdown. Kurtis Schimdt’s PAT sailed through the uprights, giving Lowndes a 7-0 lead.

Early in the second, the Lowndes defense capitalized on a Jaguar miscue. The defense pounced on quarterback Michael Harper and Marcus Ball’s fumbled exchange, with Antonio Townsend ending up with the ball on the Viking 46. Stanley Dickson, who finished the night with 105 yards, then sprinted 32 yards downfield deep into Jaguar territory. Lynn Williams took the ball in twelve more yards to the 2, and then Devaris “Bus” Leonard entered the ballgame. “Bus” slammed straight into the endzone, and after Schimdt’s kick, the score was set at 14-0. Stephenson was unable to score a first down against the rock-solid Viking defense in the remainder of the half. Stevie Harden picked off quarterback Michael Harper with a little over two minutes remaining, but Lowndes couldn’t manage to complete the two-minute drill. Thanks to the amazing defense however, the Vikings could enter the locker room with a 14-0 lead.

In the third, the Jaguars were held once more to three-and-out. After Ball’s punt, one of Stephenson’s players decided to “slyly” kick the ball to add a few more yards to the punt. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, that cost them 15 yards for an illegal touch of the ball, and Lowndes forced Stevenson to re-kick. Steven Hunter returned the punt to the Stephenson 32, giving the Vikings prime field position. “Bus” Leonard took control, rumbling from the 23 to the 7, and then all the way to the one-yard line. On fourth down and one, the unthinkable happened. “Bus” was stopped just short of the goaline by the Jaguar defense. However, Stephenson couldn’t get anywhere from their horrible field position, and had to punt.

Doug Belk started off the final quarter of the semi-final game with a 20-yard pass to the LHS 48. Perry took the ball twenty more yards into the 28, and after being stopped, the Vikings brought in the field-goal unit. Schimdt’s kick fell short, so the score remained 14-0.

With 2:05 left in the game, the Jaguars took over at their own eighteen. The Vikings needed to halt one more drive, and that they did. On fourth down, the Jaguar quarterback went back to pass, and Krys Brooks sacked him at the ten-yard line. After a few knees, the Lowndes Vikings won their second straight Georgia Dome semi-finals game, and advanced to their fourth ever State Championship game.