LINCOLN DISTRICT CHAMPIONS ONCE AGAIN





Derrington Abnar receives the Rivalry MVP Award for his game versus Ocala Forest

 

Myles Gaines makes a spectacular
grab against a Forest defender

Every now and then, there is a weekend in the season that is considered "Upset Weekend". This weekend had that feel. An undefeated team lost to a two-loss team on Thursday night, some top teams lost to the underdogs or came very close to losing around the state. So when on the first possession of the game, Ocala Forest drove the football down field on four plays and scored on the Lincoln Trojans, I understood the sentiments of the Homecoming crowd on hand on this slightly chilled night. I didn't take long at all for Ocala to move the ball on the Trojan "D". A keeper by Sophomore QB Jake Roddenberry, followed by another run, a long toss down the sideline, and then a quick run up the middle by Roddenberry gave Forest a 7-0 lead. The Trojans would quickly respond with a drive of their own, capped off by a 29 yard touchdown pass from Ronald Butler to Raphael Andrades. In the 2nd quarter Derrington Abnar would rip off a 79 yard TD run, and  the Trojans would add a pair of field goals to pull ahead 20-7 by half. In the second half, Lincoln would come out with renewed focus. Lincoln would put up 21 unanswered points, including a spectacular touchdown grab by Myles Gaines. Ocala was held to little or no gains until the latter part of the third when Forest would score on Lincoln's second team defense. Ocala added another score in the fourth to make the final 41-21. Abnar rushed for 159 yards on 13 carries and 2 TDs, Butler was 18 for 28, 281 yards and 2 TDs, while Andrades had 4 receptions, 94 yards, and a TD. With his performance Abnar earned game MVP honors. Mark Herndon had 143 yards and a TD for Ocala.

LINCOLN vs OCALA FOREST - PREVIEW

TALLAHASSEE LINCOLN TROJANS

vs

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.