Lincoln County 28
Madison Southern 7
The Patriots won their first game of the season in the annual PBK BANK/WPBK-FM Death Valley Bowl. Damon Spigle, who led the offense with 115 rushing yards, was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and was named the Guardian Exterminating and B-Green Lawn Care Player of the Game. Clay Pendygraft was named the InterCounty Energy Lineman of the Game.
The Patriots started slow but eventually pulled away to earn Coach Levi Rogers this third Death Valley Bowl victory. He becomes the first LCHS coach to start 3-0 in the home bowl game (his first win was two years ago as the head coach at Casey County).
Madison Southern won the coin toss, which was conducted by Germani Crosby, a four-time state shot put champion, and Eli Roberts, a state champion in the 400 meters last spring. The Eagles deferred their choice to the second half and Lincoln County received the opening kickoff.
Lincoln started at their own 35-yard line after the opening kickoff went out of bounds. The first possession was short, ending in a Brody Baker punt that was blocked by Madison Southern.
The Eagles started their first possession from the Lincoln County 27-yard line but the Lincoln defense stepped up, including a sack by Clay Pendygraft, stopping the drive on the five yard line.
The Lincoln offense stalled out quickly again after the loss of down by Madison Southern. This time, Brody Baker got the punt off but it covered only 17 yards. Madison Southern had great field position, again, but the Lincoln defense stepped up again, stopping the Eagles at the 28-yard line.
Then, the offense started to click when the Patriots put together a three and a half minute, twelve-play drive that covered 72 yards and was capped off by a Damon Spigle 1-yard run with 11:56 to play in the second quarter. Brody Baker added the kick and Lincoln County led 7-0
Madison Southern answered, though, with their only scoring drive of the game, covering 66 yards in just over two minutes, finishing with a 4-yard pass from Gabe Beard to Sam Little with 9:02 left in the 2nd quarter. Korben Kimble kicked the PAT and the game was tied at 7-7.
After the kickoff, Lincoln County bogged down again and punted from its own 17-yard line. This punt was also short, only 14 yards, and Madison Southern had good field position again, at the Lincoln 3-yard line. However, they fumbled on the first play after the punt, and Lincoln County used most of the remainder of the quarter to score with 1:36 remaining in the first half on a 7-yard pass from Tucker Foster to Bob Floyd, who did a great job of stretching for the goal line after the catch. Baker added his second PAT and Lincoln led 14-7 at the intermission. Floyd had 64 yards receiving for the game.
On their first possession of the second half, Madison Southern stalled at the Lincoln County 45-yard line. The Patriots took over there and four-and-a-minutes later scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper by Tucker Foster with 4:54 remaining in the third quarter. Brody Baker again connected on the PAT and Lincoln County led 21-7.
Lincoln County got the ball right back after the kick off when Drake Willoughby picked off a Madison Southern pass at the 48-yard line. Lincoln County marched it down field with the rushing of Kash Smith (83 yards for the game), and Tucker Foster got his second rushing touchdown of the night on a 9-yard run with 3:40 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Brody Baker made his fourth kick of the night and Lincoln County led 28-7.
Madison Southern got as deep as the Lincoln County twelve yard line but gave it up on downs again. Lincoln County played keep-away for the rest of the game, killing the remaining 11:54 of game time, and was deep in Madison Southern territory when time expired.
Lincoln County plays Estill County Friday night at 6:00 PM in the Garrard County Bowl in the Golden Lions new stadium.
LC 2Q 11:56 Damon Spigle 1-yard run, Brody Baker kick (LC 7-0)
MS 2Q 9:02 Sam Little 4-yard pass from Gabe Beard, Korben Kimble kick (7-7)
LC 2Q 1:36 Bob Floyd 7-yard pass from Tucker Foster, Baker kick (LC 14-7)
LC 3Q 4:54 Tucker Foster 1-yard run, Baker kick (LC 21-7)
LC 3Q 3:40 Tucker Foster 9-yard run Baker kick (LC 28-7)
By: Jonathan L. Smith
