LINCOLN vs OCALA WEST PORT - PREVIEW

TALLAHASSEE LINCOLN TROJANS

                                                                    vs

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.