Adam MacDonald
VALDOSTA — Big plays on offense and a stout defense higlighted the Lowndes Vikings’ 31-0 victory over the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets in Friday night’s scrimmage at Martin Stadium.
The two teams’ varsity squads played the first three quarters, and the junior varsity teams played the fourth.
Four different Vikings’ varsity players scored touchdowns, and the offense racked up 277 yards of total offense, with 228 yards coming on the ground.
The Vikings defense was simply stifling. The varsity unit held the Yellow Jackets to just 52 yards of total offense, 36 of which came on one passing play.
“Our defense is known to be strong,” senior linebacker Telvin Smith said. “We just had to come out here and have a great game and we did that, giving up only 52 yards.”
Thomas County Central’s varsity managed only two first downs and was forced to punt on all six of its possessions. The Yellow Jackets had five rushing yards on 21 carries.
Smith said team work and effort were the keys to night on defense.
After being forced to punt on the opening drive, the Vikings offense quickly got back on track.
Starting quarterback Cole Parker scored from one-yard out on fourth down on Lowndes’ second series, and after a two-point conversion the Vikings led 8-0.
Lowndes only needed two plays on its next possession to reach the end zone. Troy Brasswell opened the series with a 31-yard run, then Cole Parker threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Smith who was wide open near the corner of the end zone.
“Me and Cole, we feel like we can do some great things,” Smith said. “With the O-line blocking we feel like we have a connection out there.”
The Vikings again only needed two plays to reach the end zone on their opening drive of the second half. Brasswell took off on another long run, and Khary Franklin got loose from a couple of Yellow Jacket defenders on a 33-yard dash to the end zone to put the Vikings up 21-0.
The varsity offense wrapped up its scoring on a four-play, 19-yard drive with time winding down in the third quarter. After the Yellow Jackets muffed a punt, the Vikings took over at the Yellow Jacket’s 19. Brasswell punched the ball in four plays later from five yards out to give the Vikings their final touchdown.
Brasswell led the Vikings in rushing with 90 yards on eight carries. Franklin was right behind him with 83 yards on 12 carries.
Parker played nearly all three quarters as the varsity quarterback. He completed 3-of-5 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception, one of the few highlights of the night for Thomas County Central.
The Vikings’ JV squad added a field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 31-0.
The Vikings open their 2009 season against Woodland on Friday at 8 p.m. at Martin Stadium.
