Maiden Downs Lincolnton 13-0 In Defensive Struggle

                It was not a pretty win for the Maiden Blue Devils on Senior Night, but it was a win indeed. The Blue Devils beat the Wolves 13-0 and ended the regular season on a high note. Lincolnton’s season ends at 2-9.

                For the most part, this game was a defensive struggle. Both teams had trouble moving the ball. Maiden only led 6-0 at half-time. That was a result of a three-yard touchdown pass from Bain Sipe to Dylan Abernathy (PAT no good). Sipe would connect with Abernathy again in the third quarter for a 75-yard touchdown pass (PAT good).

                That would be all the scoring the Blue Devils would do but it would be enough. The Wolves were not void of highlights themselves as Dejarris Gash intercepted two passes from Sipe to keep Lincolnton in it. But they would not be able to get anything going offensively.

                “I think we played hard defensively. The kids gave us a good shot but offensively, we just made too many stupid mistakes and too many bad plays.” said Lincolnton head coach Ledford Gibson “We get something going then we shoot ourselves in the foot with something bad. We had good opportunities but just couldn’t take advantage of them and they played good defense against us. It just didn’t turn out our way.”

                “It wasn’t pretty. The field’s not pretty either. Had to get the game in.” said Maiden head coach Will Byrne “Defense played lights out. Coach Abernathy’s defensive staff did a great job in game-planning for what they’re doing. KK McDaniel being out and Bain Sipe coming back in at quarterback, with his injury he has not taken a snap in three weeks. But once he got some momentum going, he made some big throws. We scored just enough to get the win. That’s a good Lincolnton football team we just beat right there.”

                “We had the tough, emotional loss to Bandys and we came out flat against West Lincoln and we lose a close one to North Lincoln.” Byrne said about Maiden’s tough conference start “Then we started saying ‘Let’s just play one game at a time and let everything else take care of itself’. Because we had the high expectation of repeating as champions. Sometimes in those games that we lost, the ball doesn’t bounce your way. We’re starting to come together, play together and believe in each other at the right time. That’s the biggest thing moving forward now.”

                Maiden will wait to see who they play in the NCHSAA playoffs. The Blue Devils are expected to compete in 2A.