The Lumpkin County Indians are 4-0 after a close win over the Temple High Tigers

By: Noah Johnson

The Lumpkin County Indians hosted the Temple High Tigers for their homecoming game looking to go 4-0 on the season. The Indians had their most challenging game yet as they played the physical Tigers team, but were able to beat them by a score of 27-20, Indians. The Indians dominated the beginning of the contest, putting up 20 unanswered points with less than a minute left in the first quarter. The Tigers were able to score before the end of the first, making the score 20-6 after the missed extra point. In the second quarter, both teams were effective on defense and unable to score on offense eight minutes into the quarter. The Tigers were able to put together a solid rush attack that overwhelmed the Indian’s defense and got them another rushing touchdown. The score would then be 20-12 Indians, as the Tigers failed on a 2-point conversion. The Indians responded with a scoring drive thanks to a quarterback sneak by #18 Cooper Scott on 4th down, making the score 27-20 Indians. The Tigers got the ball back and managed the play clock well in the final 2 minutes of the half, giving themselves the chance to score before going to the locker room. The Tigers scored and successfully converted on a 2-point attempt, making the score 27-20 Indians at the half. The second half of the contest was a stalemate, with neither team able to put a scoring drive together. The game came to a dramatic ending; #1 Cal Faulkner would block a 4th and 29 pass intended for the Tigers receiver in the endzone, giving the Indians the ball back with only three minutes left in the contest. The Indians would go on to win 27-20 over Temple, starting the season off 4-0.

The Indians received the ball to begin the game, and they wasted no time in getting the lead over the Tigers. The Indians took the ball down the field and scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown by #32 Mason Sullens, making the score 6-0 after the missed extra point. The Tigers aimed to respond to the quick score by Lumpkin, but were unsuccessful as the player of the week #1 Cal Faulkner shut down the Tiger’s passing game. The Tigers were forced to punt after three plays giving the Indians the ball back who were ready to strike again. The Indians had a solid drive building but two consecutive flags would stop them from capitalizing. #18 Cooper Scott overcame the flags and rushed to a first down on 3rd and 2. This rush by Scott set up his 45-yard pass to Faulker for a touchdown, making the score 13-0 Indians. The Tigers could not penetrate the Indian’s defense, forced to punt the ball back to the Indian offense. With three minutes left in the quarter, the Indians put together another quality drive led by Sullens. Sullens was able to convert on three consecutive 3rd downs setting up an 11-yard touchdown from Scott to #12 Caleb Norrell, making the score 20-0 Indians. The Tigers were able to immediately respond to the Indians thanks to quarterback #4 Cam Vaughn who completed a 69-yard rush for a touchdown. Indians #23 Preston Cox was able to block the extra point, making the score 20-6 Indians as the quarter came to a close.

The Indians began the second quarter with the ball and struggled to move their offense into Tiger territory. The offense was halted due to two consecutive flags that prevented big plays for the Indians. The Tigers capitalized by sacking the quarterback Scott on 4th down, giving their offense the turnover they needed. The Tiger offense relied heavily on the run game during the next series and it resulted in an 8-yard rush for a touchdown. The Tiger’s offense stayed on the field after the touchdown in hopes to score two to put them within one score of the Indians. The Tigers were unsuccessful, making the score 20-12 Indians on top. The Indians would receive the kick, looking to put pressure on the Tigers with only four minutes left in the half. The Indian offense came out poised for another scoring drive thanks to Sullens who rushed the ball from the Indian’s 38-yard line into the Tiger’s 20-yard line. The Tiger defense put up a fight, forcing 4th and inches for the Indian offense within the 10-yard line. Scott was able to sneak through the middle of the Tiger defense for a rushing touchdown making the score 27-20 after the extra point was good. The Tigers got the ball back with a minute and a half left in the second quarter. The Tiger offense showed a great ability to manage the clock as they were able to advance the ball down the field and get out of bounds to give themselves time to score before the end of the half. Norrel blocked a potential scoring pass by the Tigers, forcing the Tiger offense into a 3rd and short position with 40 seconds left on the clock. The Tigers would convert on a tipped pass to give them the first down at the 1-yard line. The Tigers would score on a rushing touchdown and subsequently complete a successful 2-point conversion, making the score 27-20 Indians. With 10 seconds left in the half, the Tigers squib kicked it to the Indians to wind the clock down. The Indians would kneel the ball out, and the first half of the game was over with the Indians leading the Tigers 27-20.

After the homecoming festivities at halftime, the Tigers would receive the ball to begin the third quarter. The Tigers could not score despite having the ball for four minutes and overcoming a 4th and 3 earlier in the drive. The Tigers would turn the ball over on downs after an amazing stop by Cox and the Indian defense. The Indians would take the ball back and push it down the field on a rushing attack by Sullens and Scott. The Indians would be at the Tiger’s 21-yard line where they were unable to score and turned the ball over on downs. The quarter would come to a close after another defensive stop by Faulkner who got to the Tiger’s quarterback for a loss of yards after the snap was bobbled behind the line of scrimmage. The Tigers would end the quarter with the ball on 2nd and 13.

The Tigers were aiming to tie the game to start the 4th quarter, but Faulkner and the Indians had other ideas. Faulkner intercepted the Tiger’s pass on 3rd down, giving the Indians the ball with 11 minutes left in the contest. The Indians were unable to put together a scoring drive as the Tiger defense forced a punt to give their offense possession. The Tigers were able to advance the ball due to flags against the Indian’s defense that gave the Tigers two automatic first downs. The Tigers would make it within the Indian’s 25-yard line looking to tie the game. The Indians stopped a rush on 3rd and 2, setting up 4th down. The Tigers quarterback rushed on 4th down and was able to convert the 1st down. The Indian defense responded, forcing another 4th down. After a holding call was called on the Tigers, the offense had to convert on 4th and 29 to give themselves a chance to tie the game with 3 minutes left to play. The Tigers quarterback scrambled and was able to fire off a pass intended for the endzone. Faulkner once again made a huge play, blocking the pass to force a Tigers turnover on downs. Faulkner could have caught the ball for an interception, but intentionally batted the pass out of bounds so that the Indians would have better field position as their offense took the field. The Indian’s final possession would rely on the run game as they did not want to risk a turnover with a one-score lead and only 2 minutes left to play. The Indians would hold possession of the ball as the clock winded down and held on for a 27-20 victory over the Temple Tigers.

The Indians are now 4-0 on the season and provided their school a win on homecoming night. The Indians have their bye week next Friday but will return home to host the 0-3 Pickens High School Dragons on September 23rd.