Vikings end Indians season with 38-10 victory, Region 1-AAAAAA wins three games against Region 3-AAAAAA

The Lowndes Vikings showed their dominance in the first half Friday night and never looked back as they defeated the East Coweta Indians 38-10 in their first round AAAAAA state football playoff game at Garland Shoemake Stadium.
The Vikings, who improved to 8-3 on the season will travel to Lovejoy to face the Wildcats in a second round contest next Friday after they had to come from behind to defeat Marietta 27-23 while the Indians finished the season with a record of 5-6.
After holding the Indians to a three-and-out on their initial possession of the contest, the Vikings took over at their own 40 and ran their version of ground-and-pound as they ran on every play of a nine-play drive that culminated with a 16-yard run by Alex Brown.
The Vikings converted a two-point conversion attempt as Brandon Roberts powered his way into the end zone and with 6:49 remaining in the first quarter.
After the score, the two teams exchanged possession before the Vikings regained control with 90 seconds remaining in the quarter and began a drive that went into the second quarter.
The series which began at their 43 slightly resembled the Vikings opening drive as they called mostly running plays with the exception of an eight-yard pass from quarterback Austin Dixon.
The 12-play drive finally came to an end when Roberts scored on a one-run run with 7:30 remaining but the subsequent two-point conversion attempt failed and the scored held at 14-0.
The Vikings took a 12-0 lead with 5:16 remaining in the quarter when a defender popped the ball loose from Indians quarterback Bryce Gemmel at the EC 17 and returned the fumble to the end zone to take a 20-0 lead after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
The Indians tried to rally on the ensuing series as they moved from their 22 to the Vikings’ 31, but a fumble after a reception gave the Vikings the ball and they went on a drive that ended at the eight-yard line and had to be satisfied with a 25 yard field goal with 17.9 seconds remaining.
After a penalty on a failed onside kick attempt, the Indians were able to the Vikings’ 30 and got on the board as kicker Cole Antley converted a 47-yard field goal as the half ended.
The Vikings added to their scoring total in their first possession of the third quarter as they went on an eight-play drive that culminated with a five-yard run by Jerome Daniels and after he converted the two-point conversion the lead became 31-3 with 7:31 remaining.
On the ensuing possession, the Indians took over at their 24 and with predominantly pass plays, they were able to get as far as the Vikings’ 28 before a sack and an incomplete pass forced a punt that went into the end zone.
Taking over at their own 20, the Vikings went on a drive that was highlighted by a pass interference penalty and a 33-yard pass from Dixon to Eric Hart before ending with a three-yard run by Brown for a touchdown seconds into the fourth quarter.
The Indians scored the final points of the evening as Gemmel hit E.J. Ransom with a two-yard pass with 6:51 remaining and Antley converted the extra point.
In his final game, Gemmel completed 14-of-20 for 143 yards and the touchdown.
Meanwhile, the night was difficult for East Coweta's region 3-AAAAAA as Colquitt County dominated Newnan early and often in a 41-10 victory at Moultrie while Westlake was no match for the Camden County Wildcats who were 36-7 winners.
Region champion Langston Hughes prevented a sweep by the Southwest Georgia region as they defeated Valdosta 34-13 and will host McEachern next Friday night in Fairburn.