By T. Scott Boatright
Some wins are just plain special.
Especially when a big win is fueled by three kick returns for touchdowns.
And maybe more so while they’re still by no means perfect.
That’s what fueled Lincoln Preparatory School’s win at Plain Dealing as the Panthers raced all the way to paydirt on three scoring kick returns en route to a 48-6 win Thursday night.
“We made a lot of errors … we played a bad game even though we had guys make big plays. But we didn’t control the game like we should have,” said LP Coach Glen Hall.
But it sure was special. And stayed that way.
Chauncy Harper, who missed last week’s season-opening win over Madison, made up for lost time by returning the Panthers’ opening kickoff for a score.
Before all was said and done … 18 Panthers points would be accounted for by kick or punt returns.
“I guess it was a special night,” Hall said. “Maybe not really in the way we played, but the way we were blessed.”
It was over early. The Panthers led 26-0 at the end of the opening stanza and 46-6 at halftime.
Fullback Jamarius Buggs scored on a long run for the Panthers while quarterback Braylin Mayfield took a long naked bootleg (20 yards) for a score for the second straight week
“He’s getting a little more comfortable,” said Hall about Mayfield, a senior playing his first season at starting quarterback after playing a key role as a receiver last season. “But there were some rough spots I’ve got to fix.”
In the end, Hall said he’s pleased with the win — while realizing his Panthers have to improve in a hurry.
“It sounds good but it could have been better,” Hall said. “It should have. I’m glad to get the win but we’ve got a lot to work on next week.”
