GREENLAND — Darian Froud didn’t play his best game for Greenland on Friday, but he did enough to lead the Pirates past Lincoln.
Froud ran for two touchdowns and threw for two as Greenland defeated the Wolves 35-31 in a 3A-1 Conference game at Ramey Stadium. The victory clinched a home first-round playoff game for Greenland (8-1, 5-1) and denied Lincoln (7-2, 4-2) a chance to tie for the conference championship with a victory over West Fork next week.
“Darian did a good job, although I don’t know about that fumble at the end,” Greenland coach Lee Larkan said.
Froud fumbled the ball near midfield with 2 minutes, 11 seconds left when Greenland was trying to run out the clock. Lincoln quickly moved into Greenland territory after a 19-yard run by Tyler Cummings, but the Wolves gave the ball back when quarterback Cheyenne Vaughn fumbled with 1:12 to play.
Froud then put the game away with a 24-yard run to the Lincoln 41.
“We get a break with the fumble and we’re feeling pretty good, then we mishandled the snap,” Lincoln coach Brad Harris said. “It was just one of those freak things that happens, but I was so proud with how our kids played.
“Last year, they beat us 40-0 and there was a lot of people who didn’t think we’d play them this close. We’re closing the gap on everyone and that’s what I like to see.”
Froud threw two interceptions but also connected on touchdowns passes of 43 yards to Slayd Harney and 29 yards to Calvin Giddens. Gidden’s touchdown followed a penalty that negated a big gain and gave Greenland a 35-31 lead with 2:47 left in the third quarter.
“Lincoln is a very good football team, but our kids were resilient,” Larkan said. “Coming into the game, I didn’t think they’d score that many. We were blitzing like crazy, but they did a good job of moving the football.”
Lincoln led 24-41 at halftime after a 31-yard field goal by Manuel Ortiz 16.3 seconds left.
Lincoln took a 21-14 lead after the first of two interceptions by Danny Calvillo midway through the second quarter. The Wolves struck on the next play when Juan Ortiz caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Cheyenne Vaughn.
Vaughn pinned Greenland deep minutes later with a punt to the Pirates 4-yard line, but Froud led a 96-yard drive to tie the score. Froud and Michael Lewis took turns moving Greenland into scoring position before Froud finished the drive with a 31-yard run.
Froud showed his passing skills in the first quarter when he hit Slayd Harney in stride for a 43-yard touchdown. Vaughn scored on touchdown runs of 25 and 23 yards to give Lincoln an early 14-7 lead.