The GMC Prep Bulldogs played host to Lincoln County on Friday night in a game that would end in favor of the visitors by a final score of 28-14. Although it was not the outcome the GMC faithful were hoping for on their homecoming evening, the fight that the home side put up throughout the contest kept the crowd involved from the kickoff to the final whistle.

After winning the toss, GMC Prep elected to differ to the second half and kicked off to start the game. 

The Bulldog defense got off to a strong start by stuffing the run on first and second down. On third down pressure from the defensive line gave Chaze Goddard the chance at an interception and he did just that, setting up his teammates with the ball on their own 26-yard line.

Unfortunately nothing came of the turnover, and a botched long snap gave the ball back over to Lincoln County deep in Bulldog territory. The subsequent play would result in a touchdown for the visiting team to set the margin at 7-0.

Later in the first half, GMC’s defense forced another turnover deep in enemy territory when they recovered a fumble on Lincoln’s 30. The Bulldogs were forced into a field goal attempt just narrowly missed to the right of the goal post to keep the score unchanged. 

Lincoln County was held at bay on the following drive by the Bulldog defense when they sniffed out a fake punt, retaking possession once again to give the offense great field position. 

This time it led to points on the scoreboard when Brandt Smith connected over the middle with Malcolm Clayton for GMC Prep’s first touchdown of the day. The extra point sailed through the uprights and the game was tied at 7 a piece before the halftime intermission. 

The Bulldogs received the kick after halftime but went three-and-out before punting. 

Lincoln scored on its next two possessions following long drives in which it relied heavily on the inside run. Despite missing an extra point in the process, Lincoln held the lead soundly at 20-7 with just more than three minutes to go in the third quarter. 

Early in the fourth quarter the Bulldogs again found the end zone when a reverse to Armanius White worked wonders giving him open field to run in before crossing the goal line. The extra point was routinely converted to set the score now at 20-14.

Unfortunately the momentum gained during this drive was quickly taken back by Lincoln County when a fullback trap flipped the field and set them up in scoring position. The same play would score for Lincoln with just fewer than 8 minutes to go in the ballgame, setting the score at its final mark of 28-14.

GMC would again go on a productive drive, but unfortunately an interception in the red zone gave Lincoln the ball with under four minutes to go. The visiting side continued to lean heavy on their rushing attack, and with no timeouts left the Bulldogs were forced to watch the clock run out before the final buzzer sounded off to end the game.