NEW MARKET — With a backup quarterback under center, Lebanon football coach Jeff Smock was counting on his running game to lead the Tigers past Southmont on Friday night.
Landon Fouts had other plans.
The sophomore, subbing in for senior Garrett Harker, connected on 7-of-11 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-7 win over the Mounties.
“We wanted to be able to run the ball a little better then what we were able to and it ended up being the passing game that kind of opened up the running game,” Smock said. “Landon does a great job, yeah he’s a sophomore and doesn’t have a lot of experience, but he did a great job for us tonight and was pretty efficient.”
Fouts found JC Reese for touchdown strikes of 75 and 36 yards, and hit Hunter Crew for a 43-yard touchdown. The Tigers (2-3, 2-1 SAC) outgained the Mounties (2-5, 1-5) 287-35 in the first half and led 33-0.
Southmont’s offense started the game with four-straight three and outs, followed by three straight turnovers. The defensive struggles started and ended with the big plays.
“I thought that the big plays — we made some plays and forced them into some negative plays and there was a couple of times where we didn’t make the tackle or we gave up the sideline,” Southmont coach Desson Hannum said. “It’s just fundamental things that caused us to give up some big plays. That’s where the majority of their points came from.”
Trevor Winkles added a 39-yard touchdown run in the first half. The junior tailback led all rushers with 97 yards on 20 carries. Brayton Bowen added the final Tiger score on a 1-yard run. The junior had 70 yards on the ground.
Southmont showed life in the second half, scoring on a 5-yard Kellan Kaelin run with 9:08 left in the fourth quarter.
Wyatt Woodall led the Mounties with 42 yards on 11 carries.
For the game Lebanon outgained Southmont 407-110, but outside of a 60-yard run by Bowen, the Mounties held the Tigers to just 60 second half yards, and managed to pick up 75.
“I thought that second half the kids came in and really played hard,” Hannum said. “We were able to get that score. We have to continue to get better here at the end of the season.”
Lebanon hosts Western Boone, while Southmont travels to Tri-West.
Lebanon 33, Southmont 7
LB 14 19 0 0 — 33
SM 0 0 0 7 — 7
Team Stats LB SM
Total Yards 407 110
Rushing 190 94
Passing 217 16
First Downs 12 7
Turnovers 1 5
Individual Stats
Passing: SM Boyer 3-10-16; LB Fouts 7-11-217.
Rushing: SM McMasters 10-1, Chadd 5-26, Woodall 11-42, Boyer 2-15, Kailen 5-5, Cornelius 1-2, Ward 1-3. Totals 35-94; LB Winkles 20-97, Fouts 3-8, Bowen 5-70, Reese 1-3, Stillwell 3-(-2), Burns 1-4, Morton 3-6, Team 1-4; Totals 36-190.
Receiving: SM Boller 1-6, Woodall 1-6, Hess 1-4; Totals 3-16; LB Reese 2-111, Crew 2-51, Joseph 1-16, Ricci 1-35, Miller 1-4; Totals 7-217.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
LB: JC Reese 75-yard pass from Landon Fouts (Kick), 4:50
LB: Hunter Crew 43-yard pass from Fouts (Kick), 1:13
Second Quarter
LB: Trevor Winkles 39-yard run (kick failed), 10:31
LB: Brayton Bowen 1-yard run (kick failed), 5:31
LB: Reese 36-yard pass from Fouts, 4:39
Fourth Quarter
SM: Kellan Kaelin 5-yard run (Ward kick), 9:08
