LINCOLN'S CHANCE TO REPEAT - DERAILED

Seniors QB Ronald Butler, RB DJ Abnar, WR Raphael Andrades
end their H.S. football careers for the Lincoln Trojan football team.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for the Lincoln Trojans Friday night. The best of times: Lincoln had just finished the season with a 9-1 after defeating cross-town rival Godby. Lincoln had an opportunity to move ahead in the 2011 playoffs by beating Fleming Island at home. Lincoln was one of the favorites to face a team from the southern region for a chance at a State Championship. But then came the worst of times. The Trojans were hurting a little. Out for this game was Junior LB James Hearns with a knee injury, out was Senior lineman & long snapper Wes Hawkins who suffered a broken leg in practice earlier in the week. And in came the Fleming Island Golden Eagles who didn't travel to Tallahassee to go home empty handed, which was noticeable from the opening drive. With about 6 minutes left in the first quarter the Eagle scored on a 22 yard touchdown run by Frantz Caudio. Fleming Island followed that up with a field goal early in the second. After another TD and FG (extra point was blocked) the Golden Eagles flew into halftime with a 19-0 leaving the Trojan crowd in dis-belief. On the second play of the third quarter Lincoln would find life when Ronald Butler would scamper 82 yards for a Trojan TD making the score 19-7. The defense stepped up and made a stopped, but on the ensuing possession Fleming Island's Jason Kindle picked off a Lincoln pass and took it 48 yards for a score. The Eagles would add 2 FGs and the Lincoln Trojans appeared to be losing all hopes of a chance at a repeat trip to Orlando with the score now 32-7. But on a 38 yard pass from Butler to Junior WR Reggie Davis, Lincoln cut the deficit to 32-14, however the Eagles responded with a 50 yard run by Caudio. With 2:09 left in the game Lincoln would battle and score on a 12 yard TD pass to Davis. Lincoln recovered the onside kick, and this time Butler found Senior WR Raphael Andrades for a 23 yard TD giving the Trojans new hope. With the score 39-27 (after a failed 2-point conversion), Lincoln would add a safety to the score. But it was too little, too late as the quest for a repeat came to a halt in this 2011 season. Fleming Island moves on to play First Coast in a rematch of a tough loss earlier in the season. Lincoln plagued by 7 turnovers ends it's season, but not without a BIG CONGRATULATIONS from the Lincoln Football Guy.