VALDOSTA —
The Lowndes defense keeps on getting better and keeps on shutting teams out.
The Vikings posted another shutout Friday night in a 38-0 win over the Windsor Forest Knights.
It was Lowndes’ fourth shutout in its last six games.
“They’re playing hard,” Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson said. “We have gotten a little bit better on defense. They are starting to feel comfortable with what we’re doing.”
While the Vikings’ offense struggled to find a groove in the first half of Friday’s win (they led 3-0 at halftime), the defense was at the top of its game, holding the Knights to no points and barely any offensive production in the half.
In the second half, it looked as though the Vikings’ offense fed on the defensive dominance from the first half, and found its groove. Meanwhile, the defense just continued to dominate the Knights.
Windsor Forest finished with just 87 total yards on 44 plays. It was the second straight shutout by the Vikings and the second straight game an opponent failed to eclipse the 100-yard mark in total offense.
McPherson has been talking about his defense since training camp, saying he liked the group and what it is capable of doing this season. Three weeks into the season, the Viking defense is backing up their coach’s comments by proving just how good they actually are at this point of the season.
“It is an attack-type defense,” McPherson said. “I think one of the keys is the secondary not giving up the big play. They haven’t done that since the first game. They want to play good. … You talk about not letting a team score, you have to have a good secondary.”
While the Viking defense excelled Friday night, the offense did not. Lowndes was held to just 182 yards of offense, the team’s lowest amount since last year’s playoff loss to Grayson, when the Vikings were held to 145 yards.
“We weren’t executing very well at the beginning of the game,” McPherson said of the offensive miscues. “We had some blocking mistakes, we had some penalties and (Windsor Forest) was really fast on defense. We didn’t execute well in the first half.”
In the second half, the Vikings picked up their tempo offensively.
With Lowndes still leading 3-0 midway through the third quarter, senior Jordan Williams broke the game open with a pair of rushing touchdowns that made the score 17-0. A pair of Nick Burgman touchdowns in the fourth quarter and an Eric Hart interception return for a touchdown gave the Vikings a 38-0 lead and put the game out of reach.
“(The offense) doesn’t want to play bad,” McPherson said. “They knew they didn’t play well in the first half, and they had to get it done.”
As for now, the Vikings will continue to work the two-quarterback system with Alex Stephenson and Seth Carlo. On Friday, Stephenson completed 2 of his 5 passes for 12 yards and Carlo finished 0 for 3. Neither quarterback has thrown an interception yet this season.
The Lowndes High Randy McPherson Coach’s Show airs Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. from the Holiday Inn on West Hill Ave. The show can be heard live on 99.5 FM. The Vikings host Hardaway (2-1) Friday night at Martin Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
Lowndes opens region play Sept. 28 at Colquitt County.
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Related Photos
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Lowndes defensive end Dante Robinson (38) prepares to hit Windsor Forest quarterback Tremayne Trawick (17) during the Vikings’ 38-0 win last Friday at Martin Stadium. Pat Gallagher | The Valdosta Daily Times
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Lowndes defensive lineman Michael Wright (53) tries to tackle a Windsor Forest ball carrier during the Vikings’ 38-0 victory last Friday. Pat Gallagher | The Valdosta Daily Times
Discussion
Vikings' defense playing well
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