Vikings outlast Demons

VALDOSTA �" With a playoff spot on the line, the Warner Robins Demons weren't going to go down without a fight. However, that didn't stop the Lowndes Vikings from clinching the No. 2 seed in Region 1-AAAAA.
The Vikings (9-1, 6-1) scored 21 points in the second half to pull away from the Demons (6-4, 4-3) and claim a 31-17 victory in their regular season finale on Friday night in Martin Stadium.
The two teams were tied 10-10 late in the third quarter when Lowndes ' passing game came alive.
Cole Parker threw two touchdowns over the final 13 minutes to put Lowndes up 24-10 and put away the pesky Demons.
Lowndes ' win, coupled with Northside's win over Colquitt County, gives the Vikings the No. 2 seed in the region.
The Vikings will host the East Coweta Indians from Sharpsburg in the first round of the playoffs next Friday.
“I feel great,” Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson said. “We had to fight through a lot of adversity. We had some injuries. We turned the ball over on the first snap, turned it over some more, but we were still able to come out on top.”
Northside is the region champion, Colquitt County is the region No. 3 seed and the fourth seed will be determined tonight when Valdosta plays Houston County.
Warner Robins needs Houston County to pull the upset to get into the playoffs.
For a while on Friday night it looked like the Demons had a great chance to clinch a playoff spot on their own with a win. Warner Robins forced a fumble on Lowndes ' first offensive play and turned the turnover into points when quarterback Maurice Dudley hit running back Brian Sutton near the sideline. Sutton broke a tackle and raced down the sideline for a 32-yard touchdown to give the Demons a 7-0 lead.
It was the first time the Vikings trailed at home this season.
The Vikings also turned the ball over on the first play of their next possession. They ended up fumbling four times in the game.
“I'm disappointed in the turnovers, but I'm really, really pleased with the way we kept fighting,” McPherson said.
Lowndes also had to overcome personnel issues. Tyler Hunter, who fumbled on the first play, went down on a collision and never returned to the game. Jordan Black left the game late in the third quarter favoring his left arm or shoulder. Khary Franklin, the second leading rusher in the region, didn't play and wasn't in uniform. When asked why Franklin didn't play, McPherson said, “He just didn't play.” He didn't elaborate.
The Vikings fought through the adversity with a great defensive effort in the second half and big plays in the passing game.
Tied 10-10 in late in the third quarter, Parker faked a handoff to the right and found Josh Clemons with a screen pass to the left. Clemons picked up a block and took it 39 yard for a touchdown to put the Vikings up 17-10.
The Vikings' defense forced a three-and-out on Warner Robins' next possession, but Troy Braswell muffed a punt ( Lowndes ' fourth fumble) and the Demons recovered at the Lowndes 15. Lowndes ' defense held strong. After a Demons' penalty and a couple of short gains, Telvin Smith sacked Dudley on third-and-long to force a long field goal attempt which Warner Robins missed.
Later in the fourth quarter, Warner Robins went for it on its own 46-yard line on fourth-and-six. Michael Copeland batted Dudley's pass in the air and Dudley caught it and fell down to turn the ball over on downs.
Parker struck three plays later with a beautiful pass that hit Troy Braswell in stride in the back of the end zone to give the Vikings a 24-10 lead.
“Parker is getting better,” McPherson said. “We found a way to get it done.”
Trailing by two touchdowns late, Warner Robins had to go for it again on fourth down deep in its own territory. Again, the Vikings sacked Dudley to force a turnover on downs.
“We challenged them at halftime,” McPherson said. “Warner Robins has a great football team. We told them if they didn't score again in the second half we were going to win the game.”
With the Demons deflated, Lowndes handed the ball off to Robert Anderson on the next play and Anderson gashed the defense for a 15-yard touchdown, his second of the night, to make it 31-10.
Warner Robins scored a touchdown with 52 seconds left to cut Lowndes ' lead to 31-17, but the Vikings recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Anderson led the Vikings on the ground with 15 carries for 124 yards and two scores.
Parker was 6-of-10 for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith led the Vikings on defense with 15 tackles. Copeland tallied eight tackles.
Black, Chris Scurry and Geraldo Orta each had six tackles. Dion Crenshaw totaled five tackles.
The Vikings outgained the Demons 269-212.
The first half was almost dead even statistically. The game was tied 10-10 and the Vikings had 126 yards, while the Demons had 123 yards.