Coosa can’t muster offense, falls hard to Golden Bears

Marc Greenwood

Published Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Lincoln Golden Bears concocted a winning recipe. A heaping of Auburn recruit D.J. Howard, a dash of Ra’keem Truss and a smidgen of Rod Green led the Golden Bears to a 37-0 victory over the Central-Coosa Cougars at Central Stadium in a game that was shortened due to heavy rain and lighting. Lincoln improved to 4-3, and Coosa remained winless at 0-7 in the region contest.

Howard provided his own thunder and lightning as he rushed for 156 yards on 10 carries, Truss bolted for 112 yards on five carries, and Green gained 31 yards on six carries, but scored two touchdowns. Lincoln rushed for 377 yards on 34 carries and attempted no passes.

Coosa’s first offensive series went like this: no gain, no gain, a 1-yard loss and a punt.

Cougar punter Chuck Bradley’s 53-yard punt was downed at the Golden Bear 1-yard line. On their second play, Truss burst through Coosa’s line and raced 73 yards. Lincoln’s Damon Collins scored the game’s first touchdown on a 15-yard run, giving Lincoln a 7-0 lead with 9:05 left in the first quarter. Lincoln stifled the Coosa offense, regained possession and then proceeded to chew up 62 yards in five plays, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown run by Green at the 4:07 mark, increasing Lincoln’s lead to 14-0.

Both teams traded turnovers; Lincoln’s Nigel Mosley picked off Bradley’s pass. On the next play Lincoln’s Howard ran for 21 yards, but he coughed up the ball, which was recovered by the Cougars’ Demarcus Ferguson.

The Cougar offense continued to struggle, and Lincoln regained possession on its 37-yard line. Howard and Truss carried the offense with Truss scoring from the 3-yard line, pushing the Golden Bear lead to 28-0, which was the halftime score.

During the halftime show, rain pelted the field, the fans and the band, prompting both teams to agree to play eight-minute quarters in the second half.

Coosa snapped the ball over punter Bradley’s head, resulting in a safety with 1:38 left in the third quarter, stretching the lead to 30-0.

Desmond Wills scored the game’s final touchdown, a 7-yard run with 3:23 left in the game, for a final score of 37-0.

Lincoln stifled Coosa’s Marcus Judkins, holding him to negative yardage on seven carries. Judkins completed 1-of-2 passes for 23 yards, including one interception, and he caught one pass for 10 yards.

Coosa coach Rick Cahalane said, “We’ve got to get healed up, we’re all beat up.” Coosa’s Jeremy Gallops injured his shoulder, and the extent of injury is unknown. Coosa travels to Munford next week.

Lincoln, whose head coach Keith Howard passed away earlier in the year, plays the Anniston Bulldogs at home next Friday.

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