Sense Of Accomplishment

WIN BREAKS NEW GROUND FOR WOLVES

LINCOLN — Lincoln fell behind for the first time at home this season, then demonstrated their improvement on the gridiron with a 52-14 defeat of Ozark on Friday.

The Hillbillies recovered a fumble on Lincoln’s first- play from scrimmage and took a 7- 0 lead on Gage Battles’ 2-yard run, then recovered an onside kick.

“I was a little concerned early when they scored and then they got the onside kick,” said Lincoln coach Brad Harris, who noted, “Our guys really stepped up and offensively we got clicking early.”

“I just played harder when coach told me to,” said senior Danny Calvillo, a three-year starter at cornerback, who returned a kickoff for a touchdown and also had two catches for 20 yards on offense and an interception in the second quarter.

Lincoln stuffed the Hillbillies and took over on downs at their own 30. After an exchange of punts, Dalton Simmons ran in for a score that was nullified by a penalty.

No problem, Lincoln scored anyway with Drew Harris hitting Alec Pitts on a screen pass that the speedster took for a 36-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

In the second quarter, Lincoln again halted an Ozark march in Wolf territory with a fourth down stop. Seven plays later Lincoln seized the lead on Tyler Cummings’ 1- yard touchdown and the Wolves never looked back.

After an Ozark three-andout, Lincoln got away from punt that glazed the back of an Ozark blocker and rolled dead the Hillbillies’ 31. Drew Harris immediately threw to Dalton Simmons, whose sliding catch on a right flag pattern sent the Wolves in front, 21-7.

After three more plays, Lincoln forced another Ozark punt and the Wolves traveled 67 yards in eight plays to score on Drew Harris’ 29-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pitts. The Wolves led 28-7 at halftime.

“I thought we were balanced tonight. We threw the ball well and ran the ball well. We’ve been leaning a lot on the run the last couple of weeks and we knew we needed to throw it to loosen these guys [Ozark] up,” Brad Harris said. “Our offensive line was a key tonight, they protected really well.”

Ozark drove to Lincoln’s 23 to start the third quarter but Charles Rowe ended the threat with a fumble recovery

Cummings converted a fourth down and ran the ball in from 2-yards out to cap a 71-yard drive. Emilio kicked the point-after and added a 43-yard field goal to wrap up the third quarter scoring with Lincoln ahead, 38-7.

The fourth quarter was wild with three touchdowns scored in a 1:06 span beginning with Charles Rowe’s 35-yard interception return after he got a hand in the face of the passer and not only deflected the pass on the release but in a demonstration of play-making ability, caught the ball and took the pigskin to the house. Marrufo kicked the point-after and Lincoln led 45-7 with 44 seconds elapsed in the final frame.

Fifty- five seconds later, Ozark’s third quarterback inserted in the game, sophomore Austin Wheelis, threw a medium-range pass to Coleman McClure, who scored a 72-yard touchdown when the Lincoln defensive backs collided into each other with 10: 21 showing. On the ensuing kickoff, a Hillbillies’ squib kick backfired when Calvillo fielded the ball as it bounced up and broke through the coverage in the center of the field before breaking outside to the right on his way to a 75-yard touchdown.

“I’ve had close ones, that’s my first for a touchdown and my longest one, too,” Calvillo said.

Brad Harris is proud of his senior core with 17 seniors having come through the program since he took over the reigns. Brad Harris has coached the Class of 2014 all the way through junior high and varsity.

“They went undefeated in the seventh grade and they have been winners all the way through. It was a great win, we have five [ wins] here and eight on the year. It’s never been done here [at Lincoln]. I’m excited about it, I’m excited for these kids.”