VALDOSTA, Ga. — Lowndes’ run game looked to be in trouble early.

But things changed in the second half, as long scoring runs helped pick the No. 8 Vikings out of a first-half funk.

The Vikings rushed for 340 yards and scored on all seven second-half possessions en route to a 51-15 victory against the Lincoln Trojans of Tallahassee, Fla., on homecoming night at Martin Stadium on Friday.

Vikings coach Randy McPherson said the team’s scoring picked up after adjusting to the Trojans’ man-to-man defense with strong outside defenders.

“We saw some plays that we made in the first half that we were able to move a little bit,” he said. “At halftime, the offensive coaches and myself decided we were just going to just try to run (Lincoln) over.”

Lowndes (4-1) took an 8-7 halftime lead following a 55-yard TD run and 2-point conversion run by Gary Osby.

Facing a third-and-2 from their own 45, the Vikings handed the ball to Osby. He received a block and shed a pair of would-be tacklers before rumbling down the left side for the score. The run capped a six-play drive with 10:34 left in the opening half. Osby added a PAT run to the left, giving Lowndes the go-ahead score.

“Everybody was blocking hard,” Osby said. “I had to break one or two tackles and I was home free. Ty Simms made a great block on the end.”

Travis Tisdale ran for two scores, including a 70-yarder on the Vikings’ first offensive possession of the third. He ran left and cut up the middle to put the home team on top 16-7.

Tisdale ran for a 54-yard score with 28 seconds remaining in the third to extend the advantage to 38-7. He ran for a game-high 157 yards on 11 carries.

“My O-line was able to hold their blocks and open holes I needed to be running through, and I was just able to run those long runs because of those guys,” said Tisdale, who was crowned homecoming king. “I’m just glad they held up in that second half.”

Lincoln (2-2) responded with its only second-half points midway through the fourth with a 1-yard TD run to make it 38-15.

The Trojans marched into the end zone on their first possession of the game. They used a methodical 11-play drive to take a 7-0 lead after Chris Beard hit Ryan Hall for a 17-yard scoring strike.

Lowndes was forced to punt on its first two possessions before Osby’s long run to open the second period.

“We had to come out with more emotion and try to play harder,” Osby said. “We were playing slowly at the beginning, and we had to play as a team, instead of as individuals.”

UP NEXT

Lowndes visits crosstown rival Valdosta at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium at 8 p.m. Friday.

Viking Touchdown Club members may purchase tickets according to the school athletic department’s priority policy at the 6 p.m. Viking Touchdown Club meeting at The Mill Pizza Buffett in Remerton on Monday.

All tickets are reserved seats and are $12 each.

Reserved season ticket holders may purchase the number of reserved season tickets they hold at Martin Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The tickets will be on sale at the ticket office located in the Lowndes County Board of Education building on Norman Drive.  

Any remaining tickets will go on sale at 7 a.m. Tuesday in the ticket office on Norman Drive. Tickets for Lowndes High School students will be sold at the high school for $12 each.