By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

In a penalty plagued contest, the Francis Marion Rams overcame 8-0 deficit and dumped the Calhoun Tigers by a final count of 14-8 in double overtime to spoil homecoming in Letohatchee Friday night.

The win improved the Rams to 4-6 on the season while dropping the Tigers to 2-8.

A happy Rams head football coach Javaris Jackson acknowledged the penalties and mistakes by both teams, but said his team persevered until the end and came out with the win.

He said, “We didn’t score our first touchdown until the fourth quarter and were able to tie it up and bring it into double overtime. I had to put it in my No. 31 Kenneth Mickens’ hands. And I knew he was going to get the job done for me.”

After the first overtime ended with a missed field goal by the Rams and a fumble by the Tigers, Mickens scored for the Rams on a 10-yard run in the second overtime.

Calhoun head coach Dewayne Williams said he team couldn’t overcome its penalties and mistakes and, “kind of let our attitude get the best of us. But, hey, each team fought and we came up one play short.”

Calhoun drew first blood at the 9:56 mark of the second quarter when Jamarcus Davison scored from 18 yards out and Jamine Jordan added the two-point conversion to make it an 8-0 contest.

Things stayed that way until Mickens scored on a 3-yard plunge at the 9:25 mark of the fourth quarter, and David Billingsley added the two-point play to knot the score at 8-8.

An incomplete pass by the Tigers in double-overtime gave the ball over to the Rams and Mickens who crashed in for the Rams victory.