If the Lindbergh High School football team wanted to accomplish one goal Fri-day night against Fort Zumwalt South, it was to start the season with a win.
The Flyers did just that as they defeated the Bulldogs 21-12.
“It’s nice to get a win on the road under your belt,” Lindbergh head coach Tom Beauchamp said. “The game was tight until we broke it open in the end. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but it’s always nice to get a ‘W.'”
The Flyers jumped out to a 6-0 lead when junior running back Tim Hamm-Bey hammered in a two-yard touchdown with 5:24 to play in the first quarter.
Senior place kicker Eric Schwartz nailed the point-after touchdown, or PAT, to give Lindbergh a 7-0 lead.
“Tim had a real good game,” Beauchamp said. “We’re trying to give Tim more time on offense this season. He’s a guy that can make a lot of things happen for us.”
Fort Zumwalt South bounced back when Grant Shannon busted out a 91-yard touchdown run with 7:21 left in the first half to trim Lindbergh’s lead to 7-6 after a missed PAT.
But the Flyers extended their lead to 13-6 on an eight-yard touchdown run by Hamm-Bey with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter. The PAT by Schwartz gave Lindbergh a 14-6 advantage.
Hamm-Bey finished the night with 11 carries for 34 yards and two touchdowns.
“When Tim gets the ball near the goal line, he’s just got a nose for the end zone,” Beauchamp said. “I think that if he continues like this, he’s going to have a pretty good year.”
Fort Zumwalt South cut into Lindbergh’s lead late in the fourth quarter when Grant Shannon pounded in an eight-yard touchdown run with 2:53 left.
But the Flyers slammed the door on the Bulldogs’ defense when Schwartz scored on a 29-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds remaining in the game. Schwartz finished the evening with 17 carries for 96 yards. The PAT by Schwartz gave Lindbergh the eventual 21-12 win.
“Eric’s paid his dues by having to play behind other players in the past,” Beauchamp said. “But I think he’s one of those kids that’s going to be extremely consistent for us. He played really well Friday night.”
The Flyers return to action Friday when they play host to Francis Howell at 7 p.m.
Francis Howell is coming off a 13-12 win at Marquette as the Viking defense held both of Marquette’s quarterbacks to just 140 yards passing.
“Francis Howell’s big, physical and they throw the ball well,” the Lindbergh coach said. “They’ve got enough tools to hurt you and beat you.”
