Lowndes vs. Union Grove - Game Report
With their 41-0 win over the Union Grove Wolverines Friday night, the Lowndes Vikings advanced to the quarter-finals of the playoffs. The Viking defense stuffed the Wolverines all night for the shut-out. “They came out and played their guts out,” said Coach McPherson about his team’s performance. The game was even more lop-sided than the score showed, as three Lowndes touchdowns were called back on calls by the officials.

The Vikings challenged Union Grove on Lowndes’ first drive, even though they didn’t have any points to show for it. Darriett Perry’s touchdown was called back by a holding penalty, and Kurtis Schimdt missed the following 38-yard field goal attempt. The defense contained the Wolverines, forcing them to punt from deep in their own territory. Steven Hunter returned the ball to the Viking 42, giving Lowndes good field position. Lynn Williams dashed 8 yards, which set the career record for rushing yards by a Viking. Williams completed the night with 2947 career rushing yards, breaking Cedric Jones’ record of 2913 career yards set 1978-80. After runs by Williams and Perry, Stanley Dickson slipped untouched into the endzone from nine yards out for the score. Schimdt’s PAT was good, making the score 7-0.

On the next Viking drive, Lowndes’ air attack came into play. Randy J. Williams threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Perry. The 2-point conversion was called back by a holding penalty, and Schimdt missed the PAT thereafter. This closed out the first with a Viking 13-0 lead.

Early in the second, Dickson fumbled, and the ball was scooped up by Union Grove. On the next play, the Wolverines fumbled right back. Jack Schroepher picked up the pigskin, giving Lowndes possession on their 41. Darriett Perry streaked downfield to the twenty, and Williams took the ball to the 11. Led by Devaris “Bus” Leonard, Williams then pounded into the endzone for the TD. The 2-point conversion was stopped short.

On Union Grove’s next drive, the ball was snapped over the quarterback’s head into the endzone. A Wolverine player kicked the ball out of the endzone, giving Lowndes a safety. After the penalty was assessed for kicking the ball, Union Grove kicked off to Lowndes. Doug Belk ran 35 yards on the quarterback keeper, and Darriett Perry took the ball the final yards into the endzone, fumbling out of bounds. The official ruled that Darriett fumbled through the endzone, so a touchback was called.

The Wolverines were held again and forced to punt. Stevie Hardin blocked the punt,and Schroepher picked it up at the 15. Dickson drove the ball to the 3-yard line, and “Bus” Leonard smashed around the right end for the touchdown. Schimdt’s PAT set the score at 28-0. Late in the second, the Union Grove quarterback pitched back to no one, and Joe Rogers grabbed the ball. Rogers dashed 50 yards to the endzone, which after a failed 2-point conversion closed out the scoring of the 1 st half at 34-0.

Although the second half was mostly a defensive struggle, Lowndes did score once in the 3 rd. Belk sprinted 34 yards downfield for the touchdown. Schimdt capped off the scoring with his PAT, which made the score 41-0. Then the Lowndes reserves took the field, on both offense and defense. Even with the starters off the field, the Viking efense still preserved the shut-out, giving Lowndes the 41-0 win.

After the game, a proud Coach Randy McPherson yelled to his team, “How ‘bout them Vikings!” Randall Godfrey, currently playing for the NFL’s San Diego Chargers and Lowndes High Viking All-American linebacker, spoke to the Vikings after the game. Godfrey told the Vikings how proud he was of the team and how he keeps up with them over the Internet when he is away from Valdosta.