Lowndes Loses Close Game to Central Gwinnett
Despite several Lowndes turnovers, the Viking defense kept the Black Knights from scoring a touchdown, but outstanding special teams play and three field goals gave Central Gwinnett an 11-7 victory. Lowndes' threatened with a last-minute drive, sparked by a 60-yard pass from Mihiell Padgett to Kelly Dawsey, but fell short in the final seconds.

Central Gwinnett opened the game with a grinding march downfield, aided by a roughing-the-punter penalty. They seemed to have completed a pass to the one, threatening to score, but Greg Reid’s punishing blow jarred the ball loose from the receiver to force a field-goal attempt. Devin Sabina made the19-yard field goal, notching the Black Knights first score of the night. The drive took all but 3 minutes of the first quarter.

After a booming kickoff, Lowndes started off on their own 20. The Viking offense was driven back and faced 3rd-and-16. Greg Anderson was stripped going up the middle, giving the Black Knights possession on the LHS 15-yard line. As they would do again and again throughout the night, Lowndes’ defense held strong, keeping Central out of the endzone. The Black Knights settled for a 30-yard field goal with 11:15 left in the half.

The two defenses battled back-and-forth, with neither offense able to put points on the board. Lowndes muffed a Black Knight punt, and Central Gwinnett recovered at the Lowndes 20. The Viking defense denied Knight attempts to reach the endzone, setting up Sabina for a 36-yard field goal attempt. Kelly Dawsey raced through and blocked the kick.

Pumped up from the FG block, Lowndes drove downfield with a new intensity. The Vikings pounded away on the ground, but weren’t afraid to take to the air. Christian Glisson threw a 15-yard pass to Reid, and then Padgett entered the game, who connected with Kelly Dawsey for 13 yards. A pass interference penalty called against the Knights sent Lowndes to the 12-yard line. Padgett then tossed a 12-yard pass to Greg Reid, who took the ball around the right side into the endzone. Matt Rowland booted the extra point and gave Lowndes the 7-6 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the first half.

The Vikings were forced to punt on their first drive in the second half, and Rowland’s punt fell short, giving the Black Knights possession on the LHS 25. Central Gwinnett took to shots at the endzone, but both were defended by Greg Reid. Sabina’s 42-yard field goal attempt fell short.

Two series later, Lowndes was held on third down again deep in their own territory. Rowland bobbled the punt and had to attempt a punt while scrambling. The Knights blocked the kick, and the resulting scramble in the endzone resulted in a Central Gwinnett safety. Central couldn’t get anywhere on their next drive, and punted to Reid. Reid fumbled the punt and Lowndes’ Jack Schroepfer picked up the fumble, but then lost control of the ball and Gwinnett recovered on the Viking 22.

Yet again the Lowndes defense held Central to a field goal attempt. The kick was good, giving Gwinnett a 11-7 lead and leaving Lowndes 3:09 to score again. The Vikings fired up the crowd with a 60-yard Padgett-to-Dawsey pass to the opposite 20-yard line, their biggest play of the night. Lowndes got down to the 10-yard line for a first down. On second down, Perry was caught 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage, making it 3rd-and-17. The Vikings attempted a halfback pass, but Jawon Smith was taken down by the Black Knights. With one play remaining and three seconds on the clock, Padgett’s pass fell incomplete, giving Central Gwinnett the victory.