Lowndes Opens Region with 7-0 Trojan Shutout
Alex Rowell, LowndesFootball.com
Lowndes opened their region season at Jardine Stadium in Douglas with a 7-0 win over the Coffee County Trojans. Greg Reid was key in the Viking victory, making two interceptions and scoring Lowndes’ only touchdown of the night. The LHS defense shutout the Coffee offense, which had scored an average of 36.5 points per game previously in 2006.
Early in the first quarter, a Viking punt was muffed by the Trojan punt-returner. Freshman Jerry Postell recovered the muff, giving the Vikings possession on the Coffee 14. The Trojans held strong, holding Lowndes to a 4th-and-1 on the 5-yard line. The 4th-down conversion fell short, giving Coffee the ball deep in their own territory. Neither team could close in on the endzone in the first quarter.
However, early in the second Lowndes entered the redzone. Unfortunately, Coffee picked off the Viking pass on the CHS 2. The Trojans seemed to begin a decent drive, but Reid picked off the Coffee quarterback at midfield to end that. Lowndes couldn’t get anywhere on their next two possessions, but the final drive of the half proved to be different.
Tavaris Williams tore downfield 48 yards to the Coffee 17. Williams drove 10 yards more on the ground for a first down. Padgett fumbled on the next play, but fought off three Trojans for the ball. Finally, with 20 seconds remaining in the half, Reid dashed through the middle for the touchdown. Matt Rowland’s point after set the score at 7-0 going into halftime.
The teams fought a close defensive battle in the second half with Lowndes clinging to its narrow 7-0 lead. Thanks to the Lowndes defense, Coffee couldn’t get a consistent drive going. The Vikings drove down to Trojan territory early in the 4th, but settled for a field goal attempt. The 37-yard kick fell very short.
With a little over three minutes remaining in the game, Lowndes needed a clock-killing drive to preserve the victory. Lowndes pounded away on the ground, but after a holding penalty faced 3rd-and-21. Reid saved the drive by sprinting 21 yards downfield for the first. The Vikings took a knee to end the night with a 7-0 conquest of the Trojans.
