by Russell Mazzie
CORRESPONDENT
(September 12, 1998) SHINNSTON -- Tucker County took advantage of some early Lincoln mistakes and the Mountain Lions jumped to a 27-0 halftime lead en route to a 34-13 victory over the Cougars on Friday night at Stydahar Field.
The loss dropped Lincoln to 0-3 while Tucker County improved to 3-0.
"We've played three teams and I think all three teams are now 3-0," said Lincoln coach Frank Lopez.
"But we played better tonight. We moved the ball on offense," Lopez said.
"Now we just need to get the kids to stay positive because there are some teams we can beat on our schedule."
It didn't take Tucker long to score as Jon Nash set up the Mountain Lions with good field position with a 57-yard kickoff return.
It took Tucker County just three plays to go 23 yards for the score as Marshall Morris bulled in from the 7-yard line for a 6-0 lead.
The score remained the same until the second period, when the Mountain Lions added three scores, with 14 points coming in a 2-minute period.
The first came on Wes Lambert's second score, from 2 yards out, while Tyson Shahan did all the work on the second score when he blocked a punt and returned it 22 yards for a TD.
"The kids played hard and have worked hard all year," said Tucker County coach Bill Haddix.
"We have some great kids here ... they are not selfish and I'm proud of them."
Haddix substituted freely in the second half and didn't score again until the fourth quarter.
Jason Hedrick's 11-yard touchdown run made it 34-0.
The Cougars then scored on their final two possessions.
The first came when Mike Moschella bulled in from a yard out for Lincoln's first points of the season. Then, on the game's final play, Jason Salentro hit a wide open Cody Wilt for a 57-yard score.
"I was pleased with the way the offense moved the ball," Lopez said.
"We just had a couple of mistakes that hurt us."
Lincoln's Wes Carpenter led all rushers with 109 yards on 18 carries while Lambert led the Mountain Lions with 98 yards on 13 carries, including a 37-yard score in the second period.
Lincoln outgained Tucker 244-237.