The Lincoln County Falcons scored three touchdowns in just over six minutes of game clock spanning the second and third quarters, busting a tie game wide open and finishing with a 41-28 victory over Tullahoma at Meadows-Thompson Stadium in Fayetteville on Friday.
The Falcons (6-1, 1-0) are tied with Columbia at the top of Region 4-5A. Those teams meet on Oct. 17. The Wildcats (4-3, 1-1) have an open date this week for fall break, and return to action Oct. 17 with their final road game of the regular season – a trip to non-region Rockvale (3-4, 3- 2). The Cats end the regular season hosting Franklin County and Columbia.
The 66th meeting between the two schools was fast and furious from the start. Tullahoma took the opening kickoff and marched 73 yards in four plays, including a 43-yard run by QB Lucas Reed and a 26-yard Reed pass to WR Cayden Poff. Marvancy Johnson scored from four yards away, and the Cats led 7-0 with 90 seconds elapsed. Johnson earned the Midtown Nutrition Player of the Game.
After a Chase Dodson kickoff touchback, Lincoln County answered decisively, moving 80 yards
in eight plays and scoring on a 23-yard run by Carsen Carter, tying the score at 7-7 with 6:34 remaining in the first quarter. Carter led all rushers with 161 yards on 21 carries and three scores.
After moving from their 28 to the Falcons’ 45, the Cats fumbled and Lincoln County converted the turnover into seven points, with Maddox Franklin connecting with Clint Quick for a 19-yard touchdown. The PAT gave the Falcons a 14-7 lead with 11:52 to play in the first half.
Tullahoma answered with one of its best drives of the season, moving 67 yards in 12 plays, using 5:45 off the clock and scoring on Johnson’s two-yard run. The drive included a 10-yard run by Dominick Harris, a 17-yard pass from QB Patrick Riddle to Gavin Seabolt, and seven carries for 37 yards by Johnson. Dodson’s PAT tied it again at 14-14 with 5:31 left in the half.
Lincoln County went to work. Franklin threw a 65-yard pass to Trashawn Jean, and Carter followed with a one-yard score, giving the Falcons a 21-14 lead with 4:13 remaining in the half. Tullahoma was intercepted on its next offensive play, and Lincoln County increased its lead to 28-14 on a 10-yard run by Franklin. The half ended with the Wildcats missing a 37-yard field goal.
The Falcons started the second half as fast as they did the first, moving 80 yards in four plays and scoring as Franklin again connected with Quick, this time for 33 yards. The home team led 35-14 with 9:50 to play in the third quarter.
After Reed hit Alex Bobo for 14 yards, Tullahoma’s QB was sacked on two consecutive plays, forcing the Wildcats to punt it to the Falcons. For the first time, the Cats defense forced a punt, but a low snap led to the Wildcats converging on Falcons’ punter Gatlin Mole, recovering the ball at the Lincoln County 20-yard line. Johnson only needed one play to score his third touchdown, racing 20 yards to the end zone. Dodson’s kick cut the lead to 35-21 with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Tullahoma’s defense stepped up again, forcing a punt and with 1:36 left in the third and putting the ball back in the Wildcats’ offense at the 20. Johnson opened the drive with a 10-yard run, followed by a 38-yard run. Behind the running of Reed, the Cats had first-and-goal at the Falcons’ eight, but on a two-yard run by Johnson, Tullahoma committed a personal foul, pushing them back to the 21, and, after a false start, went for it on fourth down but couldn’t convert, ending the momentum the Wildcats had created defensively.
Lincoln County used 6:21 off the fourth quarter clock, but the Wildcat defense stopped them on fourth down. With their hopes fading, the Cats threw another interception and Carter went 37 yards for the final Falcon score.
There was no quit in the Cats, with Harris returning the kickoff 60 yards. After Reed connectedmwith Landin Johnson for 19 yards, the senior scored from two yards away, closing the scoring with 18 seconds remaining. The Wildcats recovered an onside kick, but the final interception of the night by Jean ended any hopes for Tullahoma.
Unofficially, Johnson led the Wildcats with 152 yards on 19 carries and three touchdowns. He has scored 19 touchdowns in seven games (114 points). Tullahoma was 10-22 passing for 135 yards but three interceptions. Bobo caught three for 53 yards and Reed added 42 rushing yards.
