By T. Scott Boatright
For the Lincoln Preparatory School Panthers, it’s out of the frying pan and into the fire.
After falling last week to Class 3A Richwood, the Panthers are making a move to a new district as they open their 2-1A season when they play at St. Frederick on Friday in Monroe.
Last year Lincoln Prep played in a District 1-1A configurations that included Arcadia, Calvary Baptist, Glenbrook, Haynesville, Homer, Magnolia School of Excellence, Plain Dealing and Ringgold.
This year’s district slate for the Panthers will feature games against Cedar Creek, Ouachita Christian, and River Oaks along with Friday’s game at St. Frederick.
“That was a very hard district we were in last year,” said Lincoln Prep coach Glen Hall. “But this one has a bunch of good teams, too. I mean, Ouachita Christian is up there with anybody in the state. Cedar Creek and St. Frederick are both strong playoff teams, too.
“But that line-up we faced last year playing teams like Haynesville, Homer and Calvary Baptist — that was never easy. So hopefully it’s something we can be ready for as we start district play this season.”
St. Frederick stands at 4-2 overall and 1-2 in District 2-2A after falling in its district opener at OCS last week by the score of 49-7.
Hall said that after considering a youth movement in an effort to spark his team, the Panthers’ practices this week have him thinking about shuffling some of his veterans around
“I think I’m going to move some guys around,” Hall said after Wednesday’s practice. “We’ve got to do something to try and get our run game going.
“So, I think I’m going to move Chauncy (Harper) from running back to quarterback, move Brandon Heard from receiver to running back and move (quarterback) Bralyn Mayfield, where he really came through for us last season.”
Hall said freshman quarterback Zion Hicks could see action under center if needed.
The 6-2, 185-pounder was the fourth quarterback Hall turned to during last week’s loss at Richwood.
“We’ve had Coach (Matthew) Reed working with him trying to get him ready,” Hall said. “Right now part of it is getting that mental part of it up to par.
“But he’s a tall kid with a good arm and looks like he might end up being a good pocket passer as he learns the game. Because one way to help our run game is to help our passing game get better, too.”
Part of what has hampered the Panthers’ run game has been the loss of bruising FB/RB Jarimarius Buggs.
“He’s been gimpy after turning an ankle and hasn’t been able to run that hard,” Hall said of Buggs. “The way he plays offense — running hard up the middle, fighting for extra yardage — was an important part of what we want to do offensively.”
This will be the first time that Lincoln Prep under that name has ever faced St. Frederick.
“The Grambling Laboratory High School Kittens that preceded Lincoln Prep’s opening in 2016 faced the Warriors six times, falling in each game:
• 2012 L 35-12
• 2011 L 40-6
• 2008 L 50-21
• 2007 L 49-0
• 2006 L 36-22
• 2005 L 47-14
“They look like a pretty good team,” Hall said of St. Frederick. “It looks like they like to run — a lot of traps and sweeps — with a pretty good back they have.”
That back — St. Frederick senior Michael Thompson — has totaled 664 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 88 carries this season. carried the ball 88 times for 664 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“It’ll take a great performance in all phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams,” Hall said. “It’s our first district game of the season. Hopefully that will provide some fire.
“We’ve had a good week of practice. The team seems focused and has been working hard. We just have to keep that going.”
