FAYETTEVILLE -- Last season the Lincoln Wolves had their most successful season in school history. The Wolves finished second in the 4A-1 conference with an 11-2 record and advanced all the way to the state quarterfinals.
Lincoln hopes to carryover that impressive run into 2014, and on Labor Day, Sept. 1, they got to start the season on one of the biggest stages in the state when they faced the Hot Springs Lakeside Rams in the first game of the Hooten's Kickoff Classic held at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Unfortunately, Lincoln's hopeful expectations were squelched when they fell to Lakeside 36-0.
"That was a tough start no doubt about it," said Wolves coach Scott Davenport. "I'm not going to make excuses, we didn't play very well, we didn't coach very well and I take full responsibility for that."
Not only was the matchup between the Wolves and the Rams the first game of the season in the state of Arkansas, but it also featured two former Razorback football players as opposing head coaches. Lakeside is coached by former Hog quarterback Jared McBride, while Lincoln is helmed by Davenport an offensive lineman who graduated from the U of A in 2004 and who is in his first year as head coach of the Wolves.
Davenport and the Wolves, who only return seven players with significant playing experience, had their hands full with the 5A Rams from the get-go. Lakeside rolled-up 335 total yards, while holding Lincoln to just 58 yards. The Wolves struggles were compounded by 65 yards of penalties in the first half as well as having three punts blocked.
Lakesides offense was paced by Rams quarterback Clint Smedley, who passed for 150 yards and 3 touchdowns on a 9 of 12 performance. Smedley first touchdown came on the Rams' opening series when he capped off a 62 yard drive with a 13-yard scoring strike to Maurice Bradford. Lincoln's Dalton Hamby blocked the P.A.T, leaving the score 6-0.
A blocked punt by the Rams on the Wolves first possession gave Lakeside the ball at Lincoln's 14 yard line. Lakeside advanced to the two where they faced a fourth and goal situation. A Charles Rowe tackle behind the line of scrimmage allowed the Wolves to take over on downs at their own 6. Unfortunately, three plays later the Rams stopped the Wolves in the end zone for a safety and an 8-0 lead.
With 2:11 left in the first quarter Lakeside increased their advantage to 15-0 when Smedley found Clint Westfall on a fade route for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Grant Gaston added the first of his four P.A.T's. The lead swelled to 22-0 when Colt Housley capped off a 73-yard drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown.
Lakeside's Brock Johnson, who had all three of the Rams' punt blocks, notched his final block midway through the second quarter and gave Lakeside the ball on the Wolves' 23. On the first play of the ensuing Ram possession, Beau Uzick found a huge opening, allowing him to take the pigskin 23 yards to pay dirt which inflated the margin to 29-0. Smedley completed his touchdown hat-trick with 3:15 left before intermission when he connected with Caleb Dean for a 4-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 36-0 going into the break.
The Wolves' offense showed some signs of life after the halftime break. On their second possession of the second half backup quarterback Lane Phelan completed five passes, with his fifth completion going for 10 yards to Kaleb Ayers and which gave the Wolves a fourth and goal situation at the Rams' one yard line. Unfortunately, Phelan was stopped in the backfield on the next play, ending Lincoln's best opportunity to cross the goal line.
Lincoln's defense, led by George Avenllaneda with 1-sack and 6-tackles and Ayers with 7-takedowns, held Lakeside scoreless in the second half, leaving the final score at 36-0.
On offense, Ayers pulled in 6 receptions for 49 yards, while Phelen finished with a 5 of 8 performance for 66 yards. Charles Rowe finished as the Wolves' leading rusher with 39 yards.
"We are going to get better. We are going to take this film and learn from it and correct what needs to be corrected," Davenport said.
The Wolves travel to Keys Okla., for a non-conference showdown Friday with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Sports on 09/10/2014