By T. Scott Boatright
Lincoln Preparatory School’s Homecoming celebration started fast Friday night as the Panthers deferred the opening kickoff but still scored three plays later en route to a 49-0 home win over Plain Dealing.
Senior Trey Spann picked off a Plain Dealing pass on the Lions’ second play from scrimmage and returned it 30 yards to set up quarterback Josh Kelly’s 3-yard scoring scamper on the next play to put the Panthers on top 7-0 only 1:09 into the contest.
The Panthers increased their lead to 14-0 at the 6:56 mark of the opening stanza on a 10-yard run to the right by Jabari Levingston before pushing to 20-0 a little more than two minutes later on a 32-yard scoring strike from Kelly to Spann.
It was the kind of start Lincoln Prep coach Chaunce Davison was looking for from his Panthers.
“I told them before the game to just take themselves and this game seriously,” Davison said. “This game is not for everybody. You have to take advantage of every play because any play could be your last. So just take advantage of every play and just play hard.
“That’s why it was important for us to start strong and fast. We stressed them to them. This game was Homecoming, and that’s important. But we’re still fighting for the playoffs, so it was really important to come out here and play the way we did.”
Levingston’s 20-yard touchdown run followed by a 2-point conversion run made it 28-0 with 9:35 left in the first half before the Lions were forced to start the ensuing drive at their own 3-yard line due to a miscue fielding the kickoff and two plays later a gang tackle led by Lincoln Prep’s Ethan Buggs and Isaac Loyd resulted in a safety to make the score 30-0 in favor of the Panthers.
Karmelo Goins’ 30-yard return on the ensuing kick set the Panthers up at the Plain Dealing 15-yard line with Levingston running right to score on the next play to start a running clock and stretch Lincoln Prep’s lead to 37-0.
Lincoln Prep added another touchdown in the third quarter on a Loyd run before the Panthers capped off scoring with a 15-yard scoring pass from Zion Hicks to Spann with 9:40 remaining in the contest.
Hicks started the season as the Panthers starting quarterback and continues to play crucial roles at free safety and tight end, which made Davison feel it was important to allow the senior to get a little Homecoming glory himself.
“He’s a kid that I keep on saying that he’s going to be a big part in helping us get to where we need to be,” Davison said. “I don’t know if he understands that, but I think he may be starting to realize just how important he is to this team. I hope so anyway.
“Zion’s kept on working hard and staying focused. The sky’s the limit for that kid.’
Davison was also pleased to see Kelly continue the strong play he’s shown since taking over at quarterback midway through the season.
“Josh is going to be Josh,” Davison said. “He’s worked his way into being a big and important part of this team. I’m just glad we’re going to have him two more years after this one.”
Davison also felt seeing Spann and Levingston combining for five touchdowns (on three runs for Levingston and two receptions for Spann) was only fitting.
“We wanted them to get their touchdowns and get some Homecoming glory,” Davison said. “Those two guys are a big part of this team and work really hard at whatever they’re trying to do. They’ve been getting touches all year and capitalizing on them, so we wanted to make sure they could celebrate Homecoming in that way, too. Especially Trey, with him being a senior.”
Davison said he appreciates the way Loyd has become a factor as a starting cornerback and slot receiver contributing to scores on both sides of the ball against the Lions.
“Isaac has earned his role,” Davison said. “He’s one of those kids that works hard and loves this game called football. He loves everything about it and is a student of the game. We really wanted to throw the ball to him, but it didn’t work out like that tonight.”
Each and every Panther dressed for the game contributed to the win, including eighth-grader Hassen Kirkpatrick, who took a handoff on the game’s final play from scrimmage.
“It’s Homecoming and we wanted to get everybody in there and play,” Davison said. “It’s just a morale booster. Just to give some of those younger guys the rewards of working hard.”
The Panthers, now 4-5 overall and 3-3 in District 1-1A play, close out the regular season next Friday on the road at Arcadia, which stands at 3-6 and 3-3 after falling to Cedar Creek 46-8 on Friday.
“It’s Arcadia — we want to play the Hornets,” Davison said. “Ever since I was coming up as a kid (playing for the old Grambling Laboratory School), this has been an important game. It’s one we don’t have to try to get pumped about. That just comes with the rivalry we have with them. So, we’ll be ready.”
