Johnie Logue
Sports Reporter
There is an old saying, "this is just what at the doctor ordered". Well, the Lincoln Cardinals defeated Windsor 24-0 on Friday night at Windsor in their biggest win of the season thus far. The game was a huge confidence builder as the bitter taste of the loss to Tipton in week two still lingers.
On this night, the Cards' Connor Lynde was cleared to play defense and gave the them a huge lift as linebacker Kyle Eckhoff sat out with an injury sustained in practice on Wednesday.
They will need both of them next week as they battle undefeated and fifth ranked Adrian at home.
Lincoln's head coach Brad Drehle was nothing but smiles after the game,
'This was a big win for us. I am very proud of our team tonight. Getting Connor back on defense was a big plus," he said.
The game started off slow with both teams struggling to move the ball. Neither team found paydirt in the opening quarter of play.
Both quarterbacks, Lincoln's Lynde and Windsor's Peyton Witherspoon, had to scramble all night long and both made impressive plays on the run but Lincoln's defense withstood the test and held off the Greyhounds offense and their talented senior quarterback.
Lincoln would score at the 7:26 mark of the second quarter on a five yard run from Ross Johnson whose second effort pushed him across the goal line. Lynde rolled out and hit wide out Kaleb Mundy for the PAT to make it 8-0.
With three minutes and change left, Johnson would power his way in again for the TD from 15 yards out. Lynde hit Darren Robberts at the 15 setting up the score by the hard running Johnson. Lynde rolled to his left and darted in untouched for the PAT. It was 16-0 and would stay there to end the first half.
No one scored in the third as penalties hurt both teams.
The fourth quarter saw Lincoln score on a beautiful run up the middle by Lynde from 35 yards out thanks to a huge hole set up by Lincoln's offensive line at the 8:42 mark .
The PAT pass from Lynde to Anthony Srader was good and it was 24-0.
Witherspoon threw a bomb to a heavily guarded receiver for a TD only to have it called back on a flag for holding.
Mundy would intercept a pass in the endzone and later catch a pass for a first down to help run the clock down. Lynde would later take a well deserved knee and it was all over.
Johnson was 32-135 rushing and Lynde was 10-56.
Roberts caught three catches for 70 yards and Mundy had five receptions for 30 yards.
Lynde was 10-12 passing for 110 yards.
"Adrian will be a huge test. I don't know about tonight but they haven't punted all year," Drehle commented.
Come out this Friday for Lincoln's biggest test of the season when they face Adrian. If you can't go, Lane Johnson and Brett Bryant will call the action on BCE TV. That game time is set for 7:00pm.
