Preying Wolfpack

Lincoln Defenders Receive All-Conference Recognition

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Nashville has a wall of blockers set up but Lincoln linebacker Johnny Yang defeats the play by diving in to make a tackle behind the line of scrimmage during the 2013 state 4A playoffs. Lincoln defeated Nashville, 27-13, and Yang was rewarded with All-Conference honors.
MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Nashville has a wall of blockers set up but Lincoln linebacker Johnny Yang defeats the play by diving in to make a tackle behind the line of scrimmage during the 2013 state 4A playoffs. Lincoln defeated Nashville, 27-13, and Yang was rewarded with All-Conference honors.

LINCOLN -- A swarming defense, which gave up the fewest points in the conference despite playing the most games, helped Lincoln's 2013 charge to the state 4A football quarterfinals.

The Wolves surrendered 170 points total with a good portion of that coming in their season-ending 35-0 loss at Booneville with leading tackler Colton Barnum lost to an injury early in the game followed by Tyler Cummings sustaining a concussion and checking out also in the first half.

"It's as much emotional just like the Booneville game whenever we lost Colton it was like somebody punched us in the stomach," said former Lincoln coach Brad Harris. "Then when we lost Tyler that was the knockout blow."

The Wolves posted two shutouts and five times allowed only a single touchdown in outscoring opponents, 462-170. Four players representing Lincoln's stingy defense was named All-Conference including: Colton Barnum, linebacker; Dalton Simmons, free safety; Charles Rowe, defensive end; and Johnny Yang, linebacker. Two Wolves earned All-Conference honorable mention on defense: Mikie Drain, linebacker; and Danny Calvillo, cornerback.

Colton Barnum

Barnum racked up 190 tackles and might have hit the 200 mark had he not been injured early at Booneville. Harris said Barnum was every bit as good as any defender they had among Hooten's Defensive Player of the Year candidates, a banquet which Harris attended as a Coach of the Year nominee along with Cummings as Offensive Player of the Year nominee.

"He's the best linebacker in our conference. He may not have the speed I'm looking for but that kid just has a nose for the ball and a knack for making plays. He understands our defensive scheme and knows what everybody's supposed to do. He's a good one, the kind of kid you want running your defense."

During practice Lincoln defensive coordinator Jim Meyers would call a blitz and Barnum would tell the coaches, "We can't run that." Harris said the coaches would look at each other and acknowledge Barnum was right because the package didn't go together.

"He's kind of like a quarterback on the field. A lot of times he'd adjust the call on the field because of what they came out in," Harris said. "He's a competitor. That's what you want out of your players, just go compete."

Dalton Simmons

Harris thinks Simmons would have had an amazing year if he hadn't gotten hurt in week three.

"He would have had 1,000 yards receiving and been a bigger factor on defense. He just wasn't able to push hard and plant off that foot like he wanted to. I got to hand it to him. He played through some pain. He's a tough little dude."

When he got hurt that's one thing we talked to him about. During the Berryville pregame he said, 'Coach, I can't play offense, I can't cut,' but he had team goals in mind. He knew that by doing that he allowed himself to play defense and be productive. I think he knew if he played both he wasn't going to be productive on either side of the ball."

Charles Rowe

"He had well over 100 tackles. He's one of those guys you look at him and you think he's not a defensive end. He's thin but he's quick and explosive," Harris said. "He'd get the first step around guys before they knew what was happening. He's strong for a kid who's lost as much weight as he has. He's a playmaker. He makes lots of plays from that defensive end spot."

Rowe scored a touchdown on defense after intercepting a deflected pass while rushing the quarterback.

"Give Timmy [Alexander] credit for batting the ball, but Charles for having awareness to pick it off," Harris said. "You don't expect that from your defensive line but both of them are smaller, quicker kids that are very active."

Johnny Yang

"He's one of those kids that is a team player. He's worried about team first. Johnny's got that defensive mentality," Harris said. "We knew Johnny was a lot better on the defensive side of the ball that's where he wanted to be."

Mikie Drain

Drain was hurt a lot in 2012 and kind of hit and miss in summer camps until Harris had a sit-down talk with him.

"From that point he turned it on for us. He did a very nice job for us," Harris said.

Drain had a huge interception return for a touchdown in playoffs against Nashville.

"That's the play you'll remember Mikie Drain for. Numerous times I've seen that guy run scout team. He sniffs it out and intercepts it, then he scored."

Danny Calvillo

Harris said Calvillo was an underrated player, whom the Wolves would line up in one-on-one coverage on the backside receiver with confidence in Calvillo's ability to defend.

"You don't recognize his stat line cause he plays cornerback. His positive is his coverage skills," Harris said. "He got his hands on a lot of balls either batting them or picking them off."

Sports on 08/06/2014