By T. Scott Boatright
Lincoln Prep gets its first big test of the 2026 high school football season as the Class 1A Panthers hit the road to play at Class 3A Bastrop in a game set for a 7 p.m. kickoff tonight at Rams Stadium.
The Panthers enter the game at 2-0 after defeating season-opening opponents Delhi and Block by a combined score of 98-20.
Bastrop won its season opener 22-14 but fell 51-6 last week at Capt. Shreve.
Panthers coach Chaunce Davison knows his team will be facing its biggest challenge so far against the Rams.
Playing a team from a higher classification is fuel enough to fire up the Panthers, but Bastrop provided a little extra motivation Davison hopes his team will use to its advantage.
“They scheduled us for their homecoming,” Davison said. “That’s all the motivation we should need. That showed what they think about us. We’d love to go in there and spoil their homecoming. We just have to stay focused, not make mental mistakes. Just focus on execution and compete.
“The longer we’re in the game, the better our chances. I know it’s 3A against 1A, but that’s OK. Playing up (in class) can only make us better. We just have to make sure we don’t beat ourselves.”
Davison said the Panthers do have an idea of what they’ll be facing against the Rams.
“They’ve got some good athletes and some good speed,” Davison said. “We know about them because we played them in 7-on-7 this summer. So we know a little something about them, and hopefully we can use that to our advantage.”
Lincoln Prep running back Jakaylon Armstrong will be a game-time decision after being injured in practice earlier this week.
Armstrong has been a force for the Panthers through their first two games and leads Lincoln Prep in rushing with 351 yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries.
“He got a little banged up in practice this week, so his status for the game is unclear,” Davison said. “We probably won’t know until pregame warmups whether he’ll be able to go or not.”
Davison said he does have a plan if Armstrong is unable to play.
“I have a few ideas,” Davison said. “We’ll change things up if we need to. I don’t want to say exactly how or with who, but I do have some ideas. We’ll just have to wait and see how things go before the game and then adjust from there if Jakaylon can’t play.”
That might mean an even bigger role than ever for Lincoln Prep junior quarterback Jabarri Henderson, who has completed 9 of 11 passes for four touchdowns so far but has also played a key role in the Panthers’ ground attack, rushing for 234 yards and five scores on 16 attempts.
He also plays a key role in Lincoln Prep’s defensive secondary.
“It’s good knowing he’ll be out there if Jakaylon can’t play,” Davison said of Levingston. “Jabari has been good with his hands and legs so far and can help fill the hole if Jakaylon is out.”
Defensively, the Panthers have been led so far by senior defensive end Sheldon Holmes, who has totaled 14 tackles and three sacks, and senior Aiden Ferguson, who also has 14 tackles along with one sack.
Randell Payne has added 11 tackles and one interception for the Panthers.
Kayse Owens has Lincoln Prep’s other interception as well as a sack.
“This game will be a big test for our defense,” Davison said. “Our guys will need to be focused, know and take care of their assignments and swarm to the football. I want to see all 11 of our guys attacking the ball on every play.”
