Linden overcomes halftime deficit to beat A.L. Johnson

THOMASTON—Linden (4-2, 4-0) remains perfect against region opponents after overcoming sloppy play and a halftime deficit by beating A.L Johnson (4-2, 3-2) by a score of 30-12 Friday evening.

The Eagles of A.L Johnson saw a 6-0 halftime lead squandered as Linden used a pounding running attack that featured four different ball carriers totaling 226 yards.

After failing to get anything going offensively in the first half, Linden needed to set the tone early in the third quarter. The Patriots did just that by way of a three-and-a-half minute drive to start second-half action resulting in their first lead of the game.

A.L Johnson would respond as they put together a series of successful plays only to fall short at the Patriots’ 29-yard line after Linden’s defense stuffed a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak attempt.

Linden wasted no time. The very next play saw Terrance Sanders took a hand-off 29-yards to the house. After converting the 2-point attempt, Linden led 22-6 with 10:34 left in regulation. A.L Johnson would never recover while Linden used the momentum and defensive stops to cruise to its fourth win of the season.

“There’s no secret about this game,” Linden coach Andro Williams said when asked about his halftime adjustments. “We made too many mistakes on special teams; we made too many mistakes all game. Neither team played spectacular. We’ve got to work to get better at the small things.”

The lone score of the first two quarters came with 6:32 left before half when Ladarius Carr scrambled 6-yards to the end zone. After a failed PAT, the eagles led 6-0.

Prentiss McCuiston got Linden on the board first with a 1-yard touchdown run with 8:32 left in the third.

Linden found the promise land again right before the end of the third, using three plays to go 59-yards for the score. Devontae Knox was responsible for two of the three plays including the touchdown run of 12-yards. Linden led 14-6.

A.L Johnson would not score again until 8:32 remained in the fourth when Ladarius Carr hooked up with Kinzell Bridges for a 12-yard touchdown pass. This came one play after Bridges found Jeremy Mitchell on a slant that Mitchell then took for 60-yards to the Pats’ 12-yard line.

Linden answered the very next drive when Dewayne Charleston Jr. completed a touchdown pass of his own. Charleston found Demarcus Gilmore in the back of the end-zone for the 15-yard TD completion. MCcuiston added the conversion run to ice the game as Linden led 30-12 with 2:13 left in the contest.

Terrance Sanders led the Patriot’s with 136 yards rushing on 15 carries with one score.

Ladarius Carr finished 12 of 22 for 153 yards and two scores, one passing and one rushing.

Warren Boykin finished with four receptions totaling 41 yards for A.L. Johnson.

Linden is set to host Marengo Thursday night while A.L. Johnson travels to John Essex.