By T. Scott Boatright
Lincoln Preparatory School has a new head coach in Chauncey Davison.
But that doesn’t mean Panthers fans should expect a new look for the Lincoln Prep football team.
Davison became head coach for Lincoln Prep in March after the dismissal of former head coach Glen Hall.
But Davison spent nine years as an assistant coach for the Panthers, serving the last two seasons as defensive coordinator and said no major changes in schemes are planned.
“We’ll be running the same defense and we still have our offensive coordinator, Dominique Hill, from last year, so we’re keeping the train on the track,” Davison said. “We’re just keeping things business as usual at spring practice.”
And Davison has liked what he’s seen from those workouts, which will culminate in a scrimmage starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at Carroll High School in Monroe with Delhi High School also participating in the three-team session.
“Practice has been going good,” Davison said. “Our numbers are up, we’ve had 36 players out here working and learning. All of these newcomers have come out here and are working hard. I’m proud of them and hoping it means a good future ahead.”
Offensively, the Panthers are looking to reload their skills positions, especially quarterback, which was manned by graduated Jordan Brown last season. Lincoln Prep is also looking to fill the void left by leading rusher D’Travion Wright.
Lincoln Prep will go bigger at quarterback in 2025 where hopes are the more prototypical sized senior-to-be Zion Hicks, who stands at 6-3, takes over behind center.
“He’s being responsible and trying to take over the position and is out there working hard,” Davison said. “What I like is that he’s trying to build on his leadership skills and is texting the other players and trying to get them to show the same focus and work ethic he’s been showing.
“We’re happy with what he’s shown us so far this spring and I really think that by August he’s going to be ready to show what he can do as a quarterback. We believe he’s going to be a good one.”
Last year the Panthers used a thunder and lightning rushing attack with D’Travion Wright doing the pounding and Jaylin Huntley using his speed to get around the edge into open field.
But after Wright’s graduation, the Panthers will rely on the diminutive Huntley to use that speed to full advantage.
“Last year we had Jaylin Huntley, and he was named second-team All-District,” Davison said. “He had D’Travion Wright to give us a double running attack last year, but this season we’re going to rely on Huntley to be our bellcow ball carrier, and we’re hoping that as a senior who’s going to get his chance, he stays focused and really gets out there and shows how much talent he truly has.
“He’s not a big back, but he runs hard and has breakaway speed that gives him the opportunity to break loose for a long one any time he touches the ball.”
The Panthers return a solid corps of experienced players to their trenches, but Davison is having to reload at linebacker and in his defensive backfield.
“I lost all my linebackers and my safeties,” Davison said. “We also are looking for a new defensive tackle. It’s my linebackers I’m looking at hardest. We’re brand new there.”
He hopes to get a look at how far his team has come during spring workouts on Saturday during the three-team scrimmage at Carroll.
“It’ll be good to go up against someone else,” Davison said. “Those are the times you can find out more about your team — seeing them go up against another team instead of the same teammates they see at every practice. It should be fun.”
