LINCOLN WINS 7 on 7 CHAMPIONSHIP

Lincoln coaches Jacquez Green & Yusuf Shakir hold the 7 on 7
Championship Spear with FSU's Jimbo Fisher as the Trojans celebrates

Teams came from far and wide to attend Jimbo Fisher's 7 on 7 team tournament held on June 16, 2012. The format is tough. Teams must play back to back to back until the championship round without much rest in between. Teams from Alabama, Georgia and South Florida made the trek to compete for the crown, but in the end it was Tallahassee's Lincoln High School vs Amos P. Godby for the Championship. Godby faced a very tough Deerfield Beach team in the semis and an extra point decided the outcome. For Lincoln the opponent was a very disciplined Holmes County, and after a tough battle early, Lincoln was able to get some breathing room. Throughout the day some of the players that stood out were QB Cameron Joseph, WRs Taj Williams, Reggie Davis, Myles Gaines, and a sure D1 prospect in WR John Burt. Defensively, James Hearns & another sure D1 prospect Jeffrey Williams consistently made plays at linebacker as did DBs Cameron Lang, Kendall Randolph, and Greg Fishburn. Over all it was a team effort and all the players had good highlights. In the Championship game however, Myles Gaines made catch after catch including a spectacular diving catch in traffic for the score that would seal the deal against Godby. The Trojans will gladly give this championship back for the one in December, but right now the mentality is one game at a time.

TALLAHASSEEE LINCOLN GETS 3 ALL-AMERICAN NOMINATIONS

Taj Williams, Reggie Davis, James Hearns are all smiles with Lincoln Head Coach Yusuf Shakir

The Army All-American game is the oldest and most prestigious post season game that features the nation's top high school football talent. The selection process includes the nomination of 400 players from all 50 states, and thousands of High Schools nationally. So when the Army All-American committee selects three different players from a small city like Tallahassee, it is an impressive testimonial of the quality of football in the area. However, when that same committee selects three players from the same High School (LINCOLN), that is a monumental accomplishment. Never before, in the history of this game, has this occurred.

James Hearns, a linebacker and University of Florida commitment, is a 6'3" 235 lbs rising senior who can play middle or outside. Has excellent speed for a guy his size. He reads the plays well and is a ferocious hitter.

Reggie Davis, a speedy wide receiver, is a 6'0" 170 lbs rising senior who is an amazing return man in addition to a very good wide receiver. Teams have been kicking away from Reggie since last year, which is the ultimate sign of respect (fear). Reggie has over 30 offers.

Taj Williams, a very athletic wide receiver, is a 6'4" 185 lbs rising senior who is tall, fast, and adjusts well to the ball when it is in the air. He can get to balls that other receivers can't. He is versatile and also has 30 plus offers.

Head Coach Yusuf Shakir is thrilled to see his players receive such attention, but he knows that there is a lot more work to do. A nomination to the U.S. Army All-American game does not get you in, however, it is an honor for these three young men to be nominated. With hard work and a solid season, maybe we see them in the game in January 2013.

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.