By T. Scott Boatright
Lincoln Preparatory head coach Glen Hall could feel it — his 23rd-seeded Panthers had a chance against 10th-seeded Ascension Catholic in opening round play of the Division IV Select School football playoffs.
But then, midway through the second quarter, not only did the wheels suddenly fall off for the Panthers, the whole cart of momentum Lincoln Prep had been building exploded … or maybe imploded would be a better description.
In the end, Lincoln Prep fell 49-6 to the Bulldogs, who will move on to face seventh-seeded Riverside Academy next week in the second round of the Division IV Select School playoffs.
After a hard-fought, scoreless first quarter against Ascension Catholic, Hall said he could feel the momentum building for his team.
“You could feel it,” Hall said. “We were driving and trying to score with about seven minutes before halftime. But then (the Bulldogs) intercepted the ball and ran it back for a pick-six score.
“Then it all just avalanched on us. They scored 36 points in seven minutes. They kicked off, we fumbled and they scored. We ran, we fumbled and they scored. We were our own worst enemy. We’re feeling like we can win this game. We had their number, and then we let it get away from us so fast.”
Lincoln Prep ‘s lone score didn’t come until midway through the fourth quarter when Brandon Heard hauled in a three-yard touchdown pass.
The loss ended the Panthers season at 3-8.
Hall feels better things are in store for his Panthers, who will get to play in their own facilities next season at the currently being constructed Lincoln Preparatory School.
The Panthers haven’t played a true home game since the 2019 season at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium on the campus of Grambling State University. The closest thing Lincoln Prep has played since then was this year’s Homecoming win over River Oaks played at Cedar Creek’s Cougars Stadium and a home playoff game played last year at Louisiana Tech’s Joe Aillet Stadium.
“Our facilities will be a game-changer — a team-changer,” Hall said. “Our weight room is supposed to be ready by March, and I can finally start building a program in the way we haven’t had a chance to do for years now.
“With our own field and facilities, we’re hoping we can attract some of the local guys that can be and practice every day and will be excited about the team. We’ll have our fans cheering us on in our stadium. That will be different for everybody. This loss tonight hurts. But the one thing we have going for us is a much brighter future. Things will get better.”
