Vikings Overwhelm Gators in 34-7 Victory
After turnovers by both teams on their opening drives, Ware took a 7-0 lead on a 52-yard touchdown pass. Lowndes responded by shutting down the Gators with 34 unanswered points. The Viking defense kept Ware's passing offense at bay, while the special teams gave Lowndes excellent field position all night. The Vikings avenged their 2005 loss to the Gators by showing them who's in charge at Martin Stadium.
Darriett Perry started the night strong with a 70-yard kickoff return to the Ware 20. Mihiell Padgett fumbled the ball on the next play, giving Ware possession on their own 32-yard line. The Gators marched downfield, cutting through the Vikings with their passing offense. Blake Summers kept Ware out the endzone though, with an interception on the goal line that he returned to the 11.
Lowndes couldn’t manage a first down on that drive, so Matt Rowland booted a 50-yard punt to the Gator 33. On first down at the 48-yard line, the Ware QB tossed a 52-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead.
The Vikings struck back a couple series later in the second quarter. Greg Reid returned a Ware punt to the 21-yard line. Devaris “Bus” Leonard and Perry drove the ball deeper, with 8-yard and 2-yard runs. Bus then rumbled to the one-yard line, and finally slammed into the endzone. After Matt Rowland’s successful PAT, the score stood at 7-7.
Ware took over at the 35 after the Viking kickoff went out-of-bounds. Lowndes pushed the Gators back 22 yards, forcing a punt on 4th-and-32. The Vikings returned the punt to their 49. After several penalties, Lowndes faced a 3rd-and-30. Perry saved the drive, however, when he broke through the line for a 45-yard dash to the 15. The drive was capped by Perry’s 10-yard sprint to the endzone, giving Lowndes their first lead of the night, 14-7.
The Gators threatened to score early in the second half. Derek Daniels dashed downfield, on his way to a possible touchdown. Kelly Dawsey stopped that however, bringing Daniels down at the 25-yard line. Ware set up in an unusual formation, with 3 wide receivers triple-stacked on the left side. After Ware dumped a quick pass to this side, Ronnie Mitchell slipped the two blockers and stuffed the receiver for a loss. This power play forced Ware to attempt a field goal, which fell short.
Late in the third, Lowndes took over at their 38. Glisson fired a 41-yard pass to Dawsey, who took the ball down to the 13. Bus exploded to the 3-yard line. Perry ran within inches of the goal line, and on the next play took it all the way in. A Lowndes personal foul was enforced on the point-after, and the kick fell short.
In the middle of the final quarter, Ware punted to Reid, who raced down to the 15. Adrian Hargett broke through to the one, and then went the final yard for the touchdown and 27-7 lead. When Ware faced a 3rd-and-17 on their final drive, Mitchell picked off their desperation pass at the Ware 45. In the closing seconds, Hargett ran the ball 15 yards to the 19, Hayden Martin drove to the 6, and Michael Mitchell swept around the left end for the touchdown. Rowland completed the night’s scoring with a PAT with 12 seconds on the clock for the 34-7 victory
