LEBANON — The Lebanon football team has talked a lot about pride this season.
Namely, being proud to play football for the Tigers, and representing the Lebanon school and community. So with a large crowd on hand for the annual homecoming game, the Tigers wanted to put on a show for the community that supports them.
They did just that on Friday, topping Crawfordsville 48-6 to improve to 4-3 on the year.
“I got a little choked up before the game, just talking about what homecoming means to me,” Lebanon head coach Jeff Smock said. “Every year you are playing for the Lebanon on your chest. Tonight we wanted to represent our community, and give all these people that came out here to watch us a good show. We wanted to keep building on our momentum and we did what we needed to do tonight.”
The momentum tilted in Lebanon’s favor within the first two minutes of the game.
On the third play from scrimmage, Hunter Crew intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead less than 90 seconds into the game.
“This was the first game we have been able to get our defense on the field first,” Smock said. “Our offense has gotten it first every week, and there is nothing wrong with that, but we wanted to see what our defense could do tone wise. It was a big pick, a big score and it is always good for your defense and special teams to get in the end zone.”
From there, the Tigers started to roll.
After a Crawfordsville 3-and-out, Lebanon went 49 yards in six plays, scoring on a 35-yard pass from Landon Fouts to Jaheem Joseph.
Crawfordsville fumbled on their next drive, and Lebanon promptly went 63 yards in four plays, scoring on a 3-yard Brayton Bowen run.
Then the special teams took over. A long punt return set the Tigers up at the Athenian 12, and Trevor Winkles scored on the next play to make it 28-0.
After the next possession, Kaden Lark returned a punt 60 yards for a score to make it 35-0, and after a Crawfordsville 3-and-out, the Tigers returned a punt to the 16. Fouts ran it in from the 9 three plays later.
“We think we have the best collection of skill weapons we have had in my entire time here as the head coach and assistant - and we have had good players in the past,” Smock said. “They have the ability to make a big play at any point and time. It was good to see (Bowen) get going tonight, Trevor ran hard again, and with Jaheem, Lark, Ricci and Crew - we are really blessed.”
The Athenians countered with their best drive of the game in the second quarter.
Crawfordsville drove 76 yards in seven plays, including a 43-yard run from Ezekiel Cardenas. They scored on a 5-yard pass from Sam Minnette to Kaiden Underwood.
Lebanon capped the scoring on the next drive, scoring a 50-yard run from Bowen (4 carries, 72 yards).
Fouts was 3-of-6 for 99 yards.
Minnette was 6-of-12 for 45 yards in the first half against the Lebanon first-string, and Cardenas had 54 yards rushing.
Crawfordsville returns to action at Tri-West on Friday.
