SHAWNTAVIOUS JENNINGS takes the handoff from Brandon Barden and heads for open ground. In desperate need of their first 2005 victory, the hometown Devils were obliged by most-hated rival Commerce last Friday night at the “Bud.” The once-mighty Tigers were completely overmatched as they fell to Our Boys 28-5. “Commerce didn’t have the football team Commerce has had in years past. I don’t say that negatively meaning that our kids didn’t play well. I thought our kids played exceptionally well, but Commerce was a little off,” Coach Campbell said.

Lincoln County outgained the Tigers in total offense 313 to 175, with 285 of the Devils’ yardage coming on the ground while scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions. Leading the Red Devils were Shawntavius “Walt” Jennings with 82 yards on 11 carries and quarterback Brandon Barden with 66 yards on 8 carries.

Freshman kicker Vance Tarver put the Tigers in an early hole with a touchback to begin the contest. The Devil defense took advantage of the early field position by stuffing the Tiger stack-I midline attack on three plays, giving the Devil wingbone tremendous field position at the 50yard-line after a 24-yard Commerce punt.

Looking more like the ball control offense Coach Larry Campbell had envisioned for his wingbone attack, the Devils ground out a 9play, 50-yard scoring drive. Other than a pair of 19-yard and 9-yard bellies to fullback Shawtavius Jennings, Lincoln County had no play longer than five yards. Eating up yards and clock, the Devils took a 6-0 lead on Jennings 9-yard belly with only 4:54 showing on the scoreboard in the first period.

On their ensuing drive Commerce’s midline option made its deepest penetration of the half before Jatheus Jones and Butch Norman dropped the Tigers for successive losses to allow the Devils to take over on downs at the Lincoln County 43-yard-line.

Getting more comfortable and consistent in their wingbone, the Devils continued to keep the ball on the ground. Quarterback Barden picked up a couple of first downs keeping the ball on the midline option. Fullback Jennings scored the Devils’ second touchdown of the game on a 27-yard carry also on the midline with 7:45 to go in the second quarter. Jatheus Jones caught a Barden pass to complete the successful 2-point conversion to put Lincoln County ahead 14-0.

After one first down by Commerce on their ensuing drive, a tackle for loss by the Devils on third and ten at the Tiger 41-yard-line forced another Commerce punt.

The Devils began their third drive at their own 34-yard-line. Seven plays and two big first down runs by quarterback Barden later the Devils had a first and ten at the Commerce 28-yard-line. Wingback Darrell Norman caught Lincoln County’s first pass of the ball game in the right flat and raced 28 yards for the Devils’ third touchdown of the night. Tarver’s PAT put Lincoln ahead 21-0 with just 58 ticks left on the clock in the first half.

Beginning the second half the Devils made their only major misstep of the ballgame. On first and ten from the Devil 30-yard-line fullback Jennings fumbled the ball away to the Tigers. After giving up a 20-yard gain to Tiger quarterback Reuben Haynes for a Commerce first and goal, the Devil defense stiffened and forced a Cody Watson 25-yard field goal. At 7:56 in the third period the Lincoln County shutout was ended, but the Devils still held a commanding 21-3 lead.

A poor Commerce kickoff gave the Devils good field position at their own 34-yard-line, but an illegal motion penalty and a snuffed out sally reverse forced the Devils to kick the ball away for the first time in the ball game.

The Devil defense, aided by a Tiger holding penalty, gave the Lincoln County offense great field position at the Tiger 40-yard-line by holding Commerce on a costly fourth and one on the ensuing Tiger possession.

On the third play after the stop Devil junior Rontae Norman went in motion from his right wingback position, caught a toss sweep to the left and cut upfield sprinting 36 yards for the Devils’ fourth and final touchdown. Tarver kicked the PAT and put the Devils on top 28-3 just 11 seconds into the fourth quarter.

The remaining drama came on the Tigers’ subsequent possession. Spreading the Devil defense with a double split formation, Commerce rode the legs of quarterback Reuben Haynes. Almost exclusively on the midline option Haynes, without the safety fill support Darrell Norman had provided all night, continued to move the sticks. Having driven 48 yards down to the Devil 2-yard-line the Tigers faced a fourth and goal. Going to the well one last time Haynes was stopped on the 1-yardline by the Devil defense.

Taking over at their own 1-yardline the Devils very wisely protected the football and on fourth-andeleven took a safety to take out of play a blocked punt for a touchdown by the Tigers. With 3:01 remaining in the game the Devils still held a commanding 28-5 lead.

With time running out after the Devils free kick the Tigers picked up one first down and then used their better discretion and instead of risking injury knelt on the ball twice to end the game.

The Devils host region 8-A foe Athens Academy at Buddy Bufford Field this Friday at 7:30 p.m.