by T. Scott Boatright
Proverbs 27:17 says that iron sharpens iron.
For a good football team striving to get better game by game, which means facing any and every challenge ahead. The bigger the challenge, the better a team can become.
The Lincoln Preparatory School football team, which stands at 3-1 overall and 1-0 in District 1-1A, faces such a challenge tonight as it hits the road to take on No. 3 Hayneville, which stands at 4-0 overall and 1-0 in league play.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Red Franklin Field.
Lincoln Prep coach Glen Hall said he has been preaching to his Panthers that it will take focused and smart football to beat the Golden Tornado.
“It’s no secret we’re going up against a team that’s been one of the most dominant in the state for years and years,” “Hall said. “They are the strongest team in our district. They say iron sharpens iron. We are going to need to play like we are iron tonight, because that is what we’re going to be going up against.
“We have to be ready to go in there and compete. If we can avoid the mental mistakes, stay focused, and stay competitive with them until late in the game, then we have a chance. But we cannot have mistakes that keep us from staying competitive. We have to stay focused with our execution. Only one or two mistakes can be the difference against a team this good.”
That will not be easy against a Haynesville squad that is averaging 42.75 points per game and has outscored its opponents 171-43 four games into the season.
Lincoln Prep has been putting points on the board, too. Since falling at D’Arbonne Woods 36-6 in the season opener, the Panthers have averaged 46.3 points per in consecutive wins over Magnolia School of Excellence, Beekman Charter Jonesboro-Hodge.
The Panthers operate an offense that mixes a standout pro-set along with a Wildcat formation with what Hall calls his “three-headed monster” in seniors Jordan Brown, the pro-set quarterback, along with D’Tavion Wright and Verlanski Glosson, who split time as the Wildcat QB.
“We’ve done well especially when operating out of the Wildcat, but I know that Haynesville knows that,” Hall said. “And that means they are probably going to try to stack the box and take away the run.
“So, we are probably going to need to keep them off balance by throwing some play-action passes. That is going to be the thing for us — we need to be able to execute and move the ball from both formations. If we let them limit us to just one thing, they can focus on stopping, we are going to have problems. We cannot beat ourselves. We have to be able to pass some to help the run just like our run game should help open up our pass game.”
Defensively, Hall said the key for his Panthers will be stopping Haynesville’s powerful run game. But that does not mean the Golden Tornado will not throw. Quarterback Isiah Washington completed four-of-five passes with three going for scores in a 51-0 over Plain Dealing last week.
“They don’t throw the ball all that much but they’re like us in that they’re not afraid to go to the air if they need to,” Hall said. “Their quarterback (Isiah Washington) is a good rusher, and they have a couple of good running backs (Donnie Critton and Yasin Meador.
“So, we have to have good line play on both sides of the ball. We have talent. We knew this team had talent. But they are starting to figure it out for themselves now. We have built a little momentum, and people are starting to take notice. But we have to come and show it again at Haynesville, which is a tough place to play. We must show we belong up there with them and are capable of beating them.”
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