ASHLAND - Three touchdowns by senior running back D.J. Howard paved the way as Lincoln defeated Clay County 28-18 Thursday night. The loss spoiled Clay County’s bid for an undefeated regular season under first-year head coach Kris Herron. Last year at Lincoln, Clay County downed the Golden Bears 35-7 to ruin a perfect regular season for the Bears.

Howard returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for his initial score. The first of four extra points by Logan Brown made it 7-0 while the late arrivals in the crowd were still hunting seats.

In the first three quarters, Howard ran between the tackles. When the third quarter closed Howard had 58 yards rushing on 14 carries. He finished with 20 runs and 192 yards.

“The strategy of the game was to pound them and pound them and pound them,” Howard said.

“We were trying to establish ourselves in the middle. I thought in the second half we started running the ball (effectively) inside and it set up our outside game,” Lincoln coach Chad Martin said.

Clay County’s first touchdown came on a 14-yard run by J.D. Williams early in the second quarter, but the kick missed wide left. Williams scored after a bad snap on a punt gave the Panthers the ball on downs at the Lincoln 29-yard line. However, Clay County failed to capitalize on two other first half turnovers by Lincoln in Lincoln territory.

The third quarter was scoreless. Lincoln got some breathing room with exactly six minutes to play when sophomore quarterback Sharrod Cochran completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to senior Branton Hall.

Two minutes later, Clay County scored on a wild play. A bobbled snap at the Lincoln 19 became a fumble recovery by Clay County tight end Charles Sims near the Lincoln 35. Sims tossed the ball forward to Breeman Ackles who scored, but the Bears halted the run for two points at the goal line.

Howard scored on a 76-yard run around left end on the next play from scrimmage. With 1:48 to go, Shawncey Simmons returned a punt 83 yards for Clay County’s final score.

After Martel Montgomery recovered an onside kick attempt for Lincoln at the Lincoln 45, Howard stepped through a tackle on the left side, cut back to his right and scored on a 55-yard run.

“I couldn’t run without my blockers,” Howard said. “My teammates opened some good holes. I get their backs and they get mine.”

Lincoln travels to face Bibb County in the first round of the playoffs next week.