LINDEN &8212; South Lamar has had a season of ups and downs. Injuries, suspensions and inexperienced youth asked to plug crucial holes in the team have combined to send the early season threat into a tailspin. A tailspin that landed at Linden High School&8217;s homecoming.

This week leading up to the game, Patriot head coach Andro Williams said his team was focusing on controlling the line. Friday night Williams&8217; goals were achieved. His group pounded the Stallions on the way to a 67-6 victory that was limited by 8-minute quarters in the second half.

In fact, the offensive line did so well the Patriots amassed eight touchdowns in the first half of play to the Stallion&8217;s nil to make it 54 to nothing going into the locker room. Six of the first eight scores came off of running plays following the line.

We need to continue to get better on the offensive and defensive line,&8221; said Williams. &8220;We played good hard pound the ball football today though.&8221;

Leading rushers hitting pay dirt for Linden behind the linemen were Darrius Fountain, who had 11 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and Maurice Tate, who also had 11 carries but for 133 yards and a touchdown. For the entire game, Linden had six rushers who ran 33 times for a combined 375 yards of the group&8217;s 456 total.

On the passing side, Jermaine Black had two tosses that found their way into the end zone while going 4-for-10 for 81 yards. Both touchdowns came in the first half, the first off a 15-yard toss to Sean Richardson in the corner of the end zone to go up 21-0 and the second to Lakendrick Rogers in the flat who busted it across the goal line.

Mental lapses by the defense also allowed the Stallions to produce their only productive drive, which also lead to their only touchdown. In the third quarter, the group marched from their own 36 to the end zone on five plays, four of which including the touchdown were on the legs of quarterback Justin Brock.