Lincoln Takes It To Another Level

LINCOLN: Coach Harrison Discusses Players’ Strengths In And Out Of The Game

LINCOLN — Defending a doublepass on the first play from scrimmage turned into a double-edged sword Berryville found itself dealing with throughout Lincoln’s 41-7 Homecoming triumph Friday.

Wolf quarterback Caleb Lloyd threw behind him to slot receiver Noe Avellanda, who then chucked the ball downfield to Blake Arnold

“We ran a little trick play, we threw it in the flat to Noe Avellanda, a backwards pass,” Harrison said. “He took it, stopped at the last second and threw it to Blake Arnold, who caught it for a big play. It was a good start for us. We wanted to start fast.”

Coach Don Harrison said the Wolves feel good about themselves when they get out of the gate and score.

“Even last week against Pea Ridge, we got the ball and on our first possession we ran a 14-play drive for a touchdown,” Harrison said. “We’re really concentrating on starting fast and we wanted to start with a little razzle-dazzle, a little something to get us excited cause it was Homecoming so we ran a trick play to start us off.”

The play had the effect Harrison sought with Lincoln fans roaring their approval. Wolfpack Stadium was rocking and rolling as the Wolves are off to their first 5-1 start since 2013; and only the second in school history. On the other side of the ball, Berryville was a little taken aback.

“Once you do something like that and you do it and they know you’re going to do it, they have to be ready for any other trick play so it makes them play on their heels a little bit,” Harrison said.

Lincoln polished off the drive with a Lloyd 12-yard touchdown toss to tight end Levi Wright, who was split out to the left then slanted in. Later Lloyd hit senior receiver Sterling Morphis with a 6-yard touchdown pass and the Wolves opened up a 14-0 first quarter lead.

Lincoln tacked on two more

touchdowns in the second period. Senior fullback Bradley Drain on a 2-yard run and left guard Kong Lee recovered a Drain fumble in the end zone.

“Bradley’s good short yardage for us,” Harrison said. “Bradley’s done a real, good job whether he’s in there blocking or whether he’s carrying the ball. He runs real hard, and he’s one of those seniors that’s really stepped up and leading the team.”

Lincoln led 28-0 at the half. Cam Brown returned to action after sitting out five weeks. He ran the ball, lined up at wide receiver and caught passes, plus returned kickoffs — creating an impact with multiple touches.

“Cam’s our Swiss Army Knife,” Harrison said. “He’s our tailback, he’s a wide receiver when we need him and he’s actually third-string emergency quarterback so he’s kind of a Swiss Army Knife is what Coach (Reed) Mendoza calls him so really glad to get him back tonight. He’s been working really hard. I’m just really proud of what he’s doing. He worked real hard to get back and he was excited.”

Noe Avellanda is another multi-dimensional player.

“He’s another one of those guys, he’s very versatile,” Harrison said. “We can move him around. We can do all the things that we want to do and can do with him and he’s just another one of those X-factor-type kids whether he catches the ball in space, whether he’s running it in space.”

Avellanda had a touchdown called back on what Harrison thought was a questionable holding call after catching a screen pass and making what Harrison describes as “an unbelievable cut.”

“It’s tough sometimes, but he just keeps going,” Harrison said. “We can put him in the backfield, and carry the ball. He does a great job for us.”

Defensive end Chance Blankenship forced at least one incompletion by getting in the quarterback’s face before he could set up throw.

“Chance is doing an awesome job,” Harrison said. “We picked him to speak at the pep rally tonight, just because he’s really stepping up and he’s taking a lot of responsibility on this defense and making sure that everybody knows what the call is and they’re getting lined up correctly. The guy plays hard from the snap to the whistle every play. We don’t catch him loafing ever. It doesn’t matter, practice, games, walkthrough, the guy’s concentrating, he’s focused and he’s another one of these guys that’s really taking this program hopefully to another level for us.”

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Lincoln senior Sterling Morphis makes a leaping interception of a pass intended for Berryville’s Ethan Gregory (No. 9) while Morphis’ teammate Blake Arnold (No. 22) tries to avoid dislodging the ball. Morphis hung on and returned the pick 42 yards to set up a Wolf touchdown during Lincoln’s 41-7 Homecoming victory over the Bobcats on Friday, Oct. 5.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LIFETOUCH NATIONAL STUDIOS Lincoln freshman maid Honesty Rice, daughter of Jonathan and Kimberly Rice, escorted by her father, and junior Kade Gibson, son of Adam and Anna Yiamkis.

Lincoln freshman maid Landree Cunningham, daughter of Jason and Brandy Cunningham, escorted by her father and junior Marcus Sturgill, son of Eddie and Jannette Cox.

Lincoln junior maid Morgan Coker, daughter of Benjamin and Courtney Coker, and Beau and Jennifer Gage; escorted by her step-father, Beau, and senior Kong Lee, son of Koua and Chong Lee.

Lincoln sophomore maid Alexis Arnold, daughter of Michael and Amanda Arnold, escorted by her father and junior Chance Blankenship, son of Jamie and Christy Blankenship.

Lincoln sophomore maid Sena Lund, daughter of Rob and Mandy Lund, escorted by her father and junior Blake Arnold, son of Michael and Amanda Arnold.

Lincoln junior maid Arianna Ortiz, daughter of Manuel and Carolyn Ortiz, escorted by her father; and senior Matthew Gibson, nephew of William and Janette Falk.

Lincoln sophomore maid Tessa Stout, daughter of Christopher and Lisa Stout, escorted by her father; and junior Christian Sellers, son of Adam and Jessica Sellers.

Lincoln junior maid Shea Woolsey, daughter of Brad and Cheryl Woolsey, escorted by her father; and sophomore Audie Ramsey, son of Scott and Michelle Ramsey.

Lincoln junior maid Maddie Raines, granddaughter of Sheila Raines, escorted by her uncle, Steven Phillips; and senior Bradley Drain, son of Troy and Becky Drain.