LINCOLN vs OCALA FOREST - PREVIEW

TALLAHASSEE LINCOLN TROJANS

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OCALA FOREST WILDCATS

The Ocala Forest Wildcats come into Tallahassee with nothing to lose. No one expects them to beat Lincoln. No one expects them to be Class 7A District 1 Champions. No one except, of course, themselves. Forest has quietly put together a solid season. Senior RB Mark Herndon is one of the most underrated players at his position in the state. Herndon has rushed for 1189 yards and 17 TDs this season, his physical size maybe an issue for some Colleges, but the size of his heart won't be. Sophomore QB Jake Roddenberry is the signal caller for the Wildcats, while the defense is led by three of the area's top players Safety Jordon Austin (who leads Marion County in tackles and interceptions), DE Tyler Grow, and LB Michael Hobbs. If the Wildcats are going to win this game, they must be disciplined on defense and not allow the Lincoln offense to get in to a rhythm, they also must control and protect the football on offense.

The Tallahassee Lincoln Trojans are coming off of a badly needed bye week. A few key Lincoln players have been nicked up, so the off week has allowed them to rest and recover. The last five games the Trojan offense has been unstoppable while scoring 62, 52, 48, 54, and 55 points. Senior RB D.J. Abnar has been running wild amassing 475 yards and 9 TDs the last two games, despite sitting out the entire second half due to the score in one of the contests. The Trojans have their eyes set on returning to Orlando in December, but the first and most important step is winning the district. For Lincoln it is also Homecoming, which adds to the excitment of the game. In order for Lincoln to win, they can not afford to look ahead. They can't look ahead to Orlando. They can't look ahead at First Coast (a likely playoff opponent). They can't look ahead at undefeated cross town rival Godby next week. The focus has to be on the now, and Head Coach Yusuf Shakir will likely have the Trojans on the right page.

TROJAN SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON **ERIC CHILDS**

Senior Linebacker Eric Childs

When it comes to consistency on the Lincoln Trojan football team, you do not need to look any further than Senior Linebacker/Running Back Eric Childs. I have followed this young man since his days at Swift Creek Middle School, and not much has changed. He makes plays, makes the tackle, sticks his nose in the middle of the opposing teams business. Maybe teams overlook him because of his stature, but at the end of the night you will find out that the one immeasurable that he does have is a huge heart. A fearless competitor, the leader on the defense, there is a reason why EC has been called "My Favorite Linebacker" for years and years.

Senior Linebacker - Eric Childs

This past summer, Childs made his rounds at several camps. At Duke he opened the coaches eyes when he posted a 4.5 forty yards dash and for a moment the possibility of a low center of gravity RB came to mind. His 5'9" and 190 pounds frame really is the only thing stopping this kid from being a big time D-1 prospect. EC also traveled to the Citadel, and Wofford College. He was able to leave a big impression on the coaches there with his hard work and attention to detail. He has been in contact with the coaches there on a regular basis and hopes to secure a scholarship offer from them soon. Citadel Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Aashon Larkin has been in regular contact with Childs since leaving the camp. Childs receives letters every week from the Citadel and would like to continue playing football and attend college somewhere. Wofford College has been in contact as well. He receives mail from them and several other schools, but right now these two schools are in his top preferences for next year. Academically, EC is already qualified. He maintains a 3.5 gpa, and scored an 1180 on his SAT & a 19 on the ACT.

What Eric Childs lacks in stature he has doubles that in heart. His biggest game this season was against Florida High. He scored the touchdown to tie the game up at 21, and sealed the game when he made a HUGE tackle for loss on 4th and short for FL High to end the game with time running out. My all time favorite highlight for EC, however came last season against Rickards. As Rickards punted the ball away to us, Reggie Davis to the ball on the right side of the field, as he raced to the middle he saw that he had to bounce it outside. With defenders giving chase EC wiped out the last guy that had a chance at Davis. EC hit the kid so hard, his feet pointed skyward as he flew about 5 yards out of bounds. ERIC CHILDS IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER (PERIOD). Where ever he ends up, that school will be lucky to have him.

LINCOLN GETS GOING EARLY OVER WEST PORT

The Tallahassee Lincoln Trojans traveled to Ocala to face the West Port Wolf Pack. The game was fast paced, as the Trojans made quick work of West Port. Senior RB D.J. Abnar put the team on his back and carried them to victory. On Lincoln's first possession, Abnar scored from 32 yards out, but West Port would quickly answer making the score 7-6 as the Wolf Pack missed the PAT. Lincoln responded by scoring on every possession in the first half except one, needing only 24 plays to put up 48 points. Abnar ripped West Port for 202 yards on 10 carries and 4 TDs in the first half, QB Ronald Butler scored on a 68 yard TD run, WR Reggie Davis added a 25 yd TD run, and WR Raphael Andrades caught a 17 yd TD to round out the first half scoring. Lincoln went into the lockerroom up 48-6.

Video: How Lincoln Scored

The Lincoln starters would sit out the second half for the fourth time this season following huge halftime leads. The Wolf Pack would not just lay down and go away though. Having every reason to hang their heads, West Port came out of the lockerroom as if the game was 0-0. Don't know what Head Coach Ryan Hearn said at the half but the speech must of been very inspirational. The Wolf Pack would drive the ball down field on the Trojan defense and score, giving West Port faithful something to cheer about. By the end of the night, RB Will Sims would finish with 18 carries for 154 yards and a touchdown. This young, up and coming team and program will be a force in the future. The Trojan reserve unit would give up 2 scores while driving down field and scoring themselves making the final score 55-21. But the real story on the night was D.J. Abnar. In the last two games Abnar has rushed for nearly 500 yards on roughly only 30 carries and an eye popping 9 TDs.

With the victory the Trojans clinched their spot in the playoffs. Their next opponent is Ocala Forest and that game will determine the District 1-7A Champion on November 4 in Tallahassee at Gene Cox Stadium 7pm.

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LINCOLN vs OCALA WEST PORT - PREVIEW

TALLAHASSEE LINCOLN TROJANS

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OCALA WEST PORT

The Ocala West Port Wolf Pack come into this game with a 3-3 record. Their offense is one that can put up a lot of points in a hurry, and are lead by a first year starter in Senior QB Daniel Guerrero. K'von Brown leads Marion County in receptions and is Guerrero's favorite target. WRs Marvin Wilkerson and Antonio Mathis are highly involved in the passing game, while RBs Antonio Mathis and Alphonso Randolph lead the ground game. The Wolf Pack love to try to get the ball to the edge, and will use screen plays and quick passes to the flat to do it. They rely on their opponents missing tackles in the open field against their quick receivers and running backs. When opponents cheat up, they will try to go over the top, however, if you can get to their QB early you can slow the offense down considerably.

The Tallahassee Lincoln Trojans travel into Ocala on a roll offensively. In the last four games they have put 216 points on the board (62, 52, 48, 54). Lincoln is lead by Senior QB Ronald Butler who has completed 65% of his passes so far with 19 TDs, and only 2 interceptions. His favorite target is Senior Raphael Andrades who has caught 10 TDs this season, and on the ground Lincoln is lead by DJ Abnar who last week ran for 278 yards and 5 TDs. The Trojans are also a team that is bruised up pretty good. James Hearns, Joshua Gilmore, Connor Sabolic, Andy Wiggins, Carson Combs, and Myles Gaines all sat out last week. Reggie Davis, Andrades and others have ankle, knee, and other ailments that may slow Lincoln down this week.

LINCOLN VS LEON: A TALLAHASSEE RIVALRY FOREVER

WR- Raph Andrades & RB - DJ Abnar       photo by Jack Turner

When the evening started, the skeptics did not give Leon a chance. Leon was missing some very key players due to an earlier situation with Middleburg High School. However, many had no idea that Lincoln would be missing a few players of their own. Out nursing injuries were four defensive starters: LB James Hearns, DL Joshua Gilmore, LB Carson Combs and DL Andy Wiggins. On the offensive side: starter OL/TE Connor Sabolic, and WR Myles Gaines, both integral part of team as well. Other players played through minor injuries, or through pain.

After Leon muffed the opening kickoff, Lincoln recovered the ball at the 21 yard line and took full advantage it. Lincoln scored on it's first play from scrimmage when Ronald Butler connected with his favorite target Raphael Andrades for a touchdown with only :11 seconds gone off of the clock. Many thought that the rout was on, but a crafty Bill Ragans wouldn't hear anything of it. With a top area running back in his backfield (Tim Longmire), Coach Ragans would rely on the legs of his QB Taylor Scott to drive the team down field, and then Scott would connect with TE Griffin Westscott for a 17 yd TD and the lead 7-6 as Lincoln had missed the PAT. Lincoln would score again, but this time on the ground. A 74 yard scamper by D.J. Abnar would give Lincoln the lead for good. Abnar would score two more TDs before the half, making the score 26-7. In the 3rd quarter, momentum would jump on Leon's side. After Abnar score his 4th TD of the night, Leon would score 3 quick TDs to make the game interesting. Leon hoping that their luck would continue, tried an onside kick, but Sophomore LB Jeff Williams would catch the ball on the hop, and race 53 yards for a touchdown. That ended any hope of an upset. Lincoln had an answer for everything that Leon had & that answer was RB D.J. Abnar. In all Abnar rushed 22 times for 278 yards and 5 TDs. Senior Raphael Andrades added 5 catches for 152 yards and 2 TDs.

LINCOLN vs LEON - PREVIEW



LINCOLN TROJANS

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LEON LIONS



Tallahassee Lincoln (5-1) @ Tallahassee Leon (3-2)

The Tallahassee Leon Lions have been in a long standing rivalry with the Tallahassee Lincoln Trojans. The fact that Leon has lost a few key players for this match up will not change the way the Lion's mindset coming into this game. Leon is on a three game win streak. They are also coming off of a huge 34-14 victory against Oakleaf from the Jacksonville Orange Park area, and is poised to give Lincoln a run for their money. Head Coach Bill Ragans knows how make the most of any situation. In the Spring he didn't have a Quarterback, so Tim Longmire (a running back) ran the show for Lions from the "Wildcat" formation. With Longmire nursing an injury earlier this seaon, Leon needed a running back, so Ragans moved Juan Neloms (a receiver & defensive back & arguably their best athlete) to running back.

Lincoln has been on a roll since they got a scare from Florida High. The Lincoln Trojans have been in three consecutive games in which the starters were pulled by the end of the first half. Running clocks have been used in the third and fourth quarters, due to the size of the leads. Senior QB Ronald Butler has been on fire during that stretch throwing 13 TDs in 3 halves against one interception. Senior RB D.J. Abnar has lead the ground game, while Senior WR Raphael Andrades has benefitted from Butler’s aerial attack.

LINCOLN TROJANS DESTROYS GAINESVILLE BUCHHOLZ

If you blinked, you missed it, as the Lincoln Trojans made quick work of the Gainesville Buchholz Bobcats. On the first possession, Lincoln ran two plays and scored on a 60 yard pass from Ronald Butler to Myron Mebane making the score 6-0 after the kick failed. On the ensuing possession, Butler and Mebane hooked up again for the second score of the game, and the rout was on. DJ Abnar would run one in on the on the third possession, just before Butler would hook up with his favorite target Raphael Andrades, for a 5 yard score. Reggie Davis would add to the fun with a score from Butler, and Andrades would close out the perfect first half with a 22 yards grab. The Trojans scored everytime that they touched the ball in the first half, Butler was 11 for 11, with 182 yards & a game tying record 5 TDs in the first half.

At the half, the 1999 and 2001 Championship teams were honored including some key administrators like then principal, Martha Bunche and key players like Mike Gilliam who still holds records for rushing at Lincoln.

Buchholz hosts Gainesville next week, while Lincoln goes up against cross town rival Leon.

LINCOLN TROJANS vs GAINESVILLE BUCHHOLZ - PREVIEW

TALLAHASSEE LINCOLN TROJANS

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GAINESVILLE BUCHHOLZ

The Gainesville Buchholz Bobcats come into this game improving week by week. After starting the season with a lot of key players sitting out due to injury, this team is getting better and better. Last week they had three of those key players back in action, and this week the Bobcats get two more. However, this team has relied on their Mr. Everything back (#3) Tony James. James is their leading rusher, leading receiver, and if he has to sell popcorn he'll be the leader at that. The team is young with only nine Seniors on the roster, and will be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come, but don't go to sleep on them this year because the Bobcats are up and coming.

The Tallahassee Lincoln Trojans come off of a two game stretch in which their starters only got to play the first halves due to lopsided victories. In the last four quarters, however, the Trojan starters have outscored their opponents 104-0 and have been led by Senior QB Ronald Butler who was 25 for 36 for 336 yards with 8 TDs and just 1 interception over those four quarters. With the offense starting to click, and the defense playing strong, look for the Trojans to continue to improve.

LINCOLN AT IT AGAIN



Ronald Butler and the Trojans run all over Rickards - photo by Mike Ewen/Democrat


Last week against Chiles High School, Lincoln lead 55-0 at the half, and sat the starters for the remainder of the game. This week against Rickards, Lincoln lead 49-0 at the half, and sat the starters for the remainder of the game. "It's deja vu all over again" (Yogi Berra). Lincoln has suddenly become a high powered offense behind the arm of Ronald Butler, and the legs of DJ Abnar. Butler once again threw for 4 TDs, Abnar ran for over 100 yards and 2 TDs, and this time Reggie Davis was the recipient of 3 TD passes from Butler.... ALL IN THE FIRST HALF. Statistically, Butler finished 7 for 11, 152 yards, 4 TDs, and had his first interception of the season; Abnar had 9 carries for 129 yards and 2 TDs, while Reggie Davis added 4 receptions for 109 yards and a (Lincoln) record tying 3 TDs. This Lincoln team is begining to gel, and to show signs of... well before I get ahead of myself, let's focus on the next opponent which for Lincoln is at home against Gainesville Buchholz (we'll talk about them later) while Rickards travels to Wakulla next week.