By T. Scott Boatright
Lincoln Preparatory School’s football team got back to business on Monday as the Panthers returned to conditioning and weight-lifting workouts on Monday after a two-week break.
But before that break they got a chance to work on their offensive skills positions and defensive backfield during a pair of 7-on-7 camps.
“We went over to River Oaks (in Monroe) and went up against River Oaks and Delhi Charter,” said Panthers coach Chauncey Davison. “We got some good work in there and I thought we looked pretty good.
“And we also went to Shreveport and got second place — we lost to Homer — at a 7-on-7 session hosted by Centenary College. So we’ve been working at it trying to get better even before the start of official preseason practice.”
That 7-on-7 work against other teams is especially important as the Panthers work to get new starting quarterback Zion Hicks more comfortable behind center.
“Zion’s coming along pretty good,” Davison said. “He’s learning how to be a quarterback. He’s learning how to be a leader. This is going to be his first year taking those responsibilities. I’m just excited to see if he can do what he needs to do.”
Senior Tre Spann looks to be Hicks’ top target after serving as one of Lincoln Prep’s top receivers the past couple of years.
“Having Tre back for his senior season is huge,” Davison said. “He’s a leader for our basketball team, too.
“But Tre is a quiet leader. He’s not gonna say much. He’s going to lead by example. He’s going to lead with his actions. He’s going to show up every day and he’s going to put that work in. But he’s not a big talker.:”
Davison said the Panthers’ vocal leader will be senior lineman Ryan Randolph.
“Ryan is one of those guys who can tell the other players something, and they’re going to do it without saying too much back,” Davison said.
Stepping into the Panthers’ tight end role to replace Hicks will be Josiah Spann, Tre Spann’s younger brother.
“Josiah looked pretty good in the 7-on-7 camps,” Davison said. “But 7-on-7 is not like playing in pads, so he’s still got a lot of work ahead of him. But he’s been catching and making plays for us, so I’m eager to get out there and see what he can still do wearing those pads.”
The Panthers lost last year’s top ballcarrier D’Tavion Wright but do have senior Jaylin Huntley returning to head up Lincoln Prep’s corps of running backs.
“Huntley is a speedster. He doesn’t have the best hands, but I love to see him get behind the kind and find some open space,” Davison said. “Once he does that, he’s trouble for the opposing defense.”
Davison said actual preseason workouts will start on Aug. 11 leading up to Lincoln Prep’s Jamboree games against Madison and General Trass at the Madison Parish Jamboree on Aug. 29.
The Panthers kick off the regular season at home on Sept 5 before playing a pair of Thursday contests, at Magnolia Charter on Sept. 11 and at home against Beekman Charter on Sept. 18.
Lincoln Prep will open District 1-1A play on Sept. 26 at home against Jonesboro-Hodge before playing at Haynesville on Oct. 3.
Then comes a three-game road swing as the Panthers travel to Ringgold on Oct. 10, Glenbrook on Oct. 17 and Cedar Creek on Oct. 24.
The Panthers will celebrate Homecoming on Oct. 31 by playing host to Plain Dealing before closing out regular-season play on Nov. 7 at Arcadia.
