VALDOSTA — Lowndes’ return team set up its offense with a short field, and the offense made the most of it.

The Vikings’ special teams unit provided excellent field position early, helping boost the offense to score on its first four possessions en route to a 55-0 homecoming win against the Shiloh Generals at Martin Stadium on Friday night.

Tiberius Drocea took the game’s opening kickoff to the Shiloh 35. Michael Barrett rolled left and found Tayvonn Kyle for a 13-yard gain. J.D. Lee ran up the middle for 10 yards on the next play. After the Generals (0-5) picked up a flag, Lowndes (5-0) moved to the 5 and Travis Tisdale shot up the middle for the first of his two rushing scores.

“The first running play we did, I think, was power, so once we got through with it, I think it was a pretty good game,” tight end Marcus Gary said. “I knew from that point on that it was going to be a great night on the run and we weren’t going to do much passing because we wouldn’t need it.”

Tisdale led the Vikings’ ground game with 47 yards on five carries. Lee had 45 yards on four attempts and a touchdown. Drocea rushed twice for 44 yards. The team ended the night with 237 yards rushing.

“We’re holding up pretty good and we’re 5-0. I’m just happy to say that,” Tisdale said.

Kyle returned the next kickoff down the left side before being stopped at the 14. Lee took the first snap and ran ahead for Lowndes’ second score.

Gary said getting great field position is “inevitable” because of the way the Vikings’ special teams is performing.

“That’s what wins games, when you get good field position. You come out there and only have 30 yards to score, it’s pretty easy,” the senior said.

After the Vikings went ahead 20-0, the defense helped with field position. Safety Tymere Moore returned an interception to the 28. Four plays later, Gary Osby bulldozed forward for a 1-yard score.

SHUTOUT CITY

The Generals could do nothing to crack Lowndes’ sturdy defense.

The Vikings’ D buttoned down every rushing and passing effort Shiloh brought, surrendering just 8 yards of total offense (13 passing, minus-5 rushing) in its fourth shutout of the season. It was the defensive unit’s most dominant effort since crushing International School of Broward (Fla.) with a minus-40 yards of total offense.

“That’s always great, because if (opponents) don’t score, we can’t lose,” offensive lineman Palmer Henderson said.

There were a handful of plays that boosted another stellar defensive outing. Moore’s INT that led to a score was one.

Drocea tipped a pass and Josh Brown corralled it and returned it from inside the Shiloh 30 to extend Lowndes’ lead to 34-0 with 2:36 left in the opening half.

“It was good for Josh,” defensive coordinator Byron Slack said. “It was his first one, and I think the guys were really getting after him about not having one yet. So he did a good job of keeping his eyes on the ball and made the play.”

Brown made the home crowd “ooh” when he made a heavy defensive hit on a Shiloh wide receiver, making him drop a pass. Walker Schwab’s tackle for loss on the next play forced the Generals to punt.

STATS

The Vikings played a clean game, receiving no penalties… Shiloh was flagged six times for 40 yards… Lowndes had 21 first downs to the Generals’ 2… Dexter Smith had two receptions for 32 yards for the Vikings… Ashton Musgrove kicked six extra points; his first attempt was blocked… Shiloh’s Anas Spain and Cevon January recorded five solo tackles apiece.

THEY SAID IT

“We just don’t let up, and defensively, we want to make sure that whoever gets in the game does what they’re supposed to do, carries out their responsibilities, because at this level everybody is literally one play away from having to go out there.” — Slack said of second-half play.

“Everybody impressed me. I love to see the defense doing a lot better than it did last year, because defense wins championships. We needed a strong defense this year. Some guys stepped up and they did what they needed to do. Now our defense is rolling.” — Gary said of the defensive effort.

“It’s always good because when the passing game is going good, that doesn’t always mean we’re really blocking, but if the running game is going, that means we’re blocking good.” — Henderson said of the success of Lowndes’ run game.