Road Game Snowballs Against Wolves

Keys Blasts Lincoln, 46-13

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Keys, Okla. junior R.J. Winslow recovers an onside kick with the Cougars leading 18-7 in the first quarter. Keys converted the possession into another score on the way to handing the Wolves a 46-13 nonconference loss Friday.
MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Keys, Okla. junior R.J. Winslow recovers an onside kick with the Cougars leading 18-7 in the first quarter. Keys converted the possession into another score on the way to handing the Wolves a 46-13 nonconference loss Friday.

PARK HILL, OKLA. - Lincoln mistakes coupled with an effective Keys offense worked like a snowball rolling unimpeded downhill in the Oklahoma Ozarks as the Wolves suffered a 46-13 defeat Friday.

Lincoln trailed 12-0 before getting the ball, due to a fumbled kickoff; and fell further behind, 24-7, in the first period after Keys recovered an onside kick. After trading scores, the Wolves' third offensive possession was short-circuited when they were flagged for a horse-collar block backing them up into a third-and-28 from their own seven. The Wolves would not score again and Keys held a 38-13 halftime lead. The nonconference loss dropped Lincoln to 0-2 on the season.

Lincoln gave up a long kickoff return by Keys' Chad Pippin to the Cougar 42 and touchdown drive capped by Kylar Stilwell's 1-yard touchdown on Keys' opening possession, then fumbled the ensuing kickoff which Keys' Trae Primm recovered at the Wolves' 32. The Cougars took full advantage of the short field, driving for a second touchdown on Justin Daughtery's 8-yard rush to take a 12-0 lead before the Lincoln offense ever set foot on the field.

When Lincoln's offense did take the field, they moved the ball effectively with senior quarterback Harrison Swayne finding Braden Umberson on third-and-13 for 38 yards and a first-down at the Cougar 32. From there, Swayne threw to sophomore runningback Caleb Lloyd all alone in the end zone. Lloyd's catch was an impressive athletic feat. He latched onto the football while sitting up, sliding forward. The point-after kick narrowed Keys' lead to 12-7 at the 5:37 mark of the first quarter and Lincoln looked like they might get back in the game.

The optimism didn't last long. Stilwell provided Keys' good field position with a kick return to the Cougar 37. The Wolves burned a time-out on defense, then halted a pass completion for no gain on first down; but on second down, Keys fullback Dalton Clark lined up in the I-formation and took an inside handoff. He went off left guard and showed his speed by racing 63 yards for a third Cougar touchdown and Keys led 18-7 one minute after Lincoln's score.

Alden Terrell then executed an onside kick, catching Lincoln off guard with R.J. Winslow recovering for the Cougars, who set up their offense at the Wolves' 30. The Cougars went for a quick strike with Cory passing to Stilwell for a touchdown on the first play of the series. A fourth point-after attempt by the Cougars failed, but Keys was in front, 24-7, with 4:25 remaining in the first quarter.

Lincoln made the most of their second offensive possession, marching 66 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown. Swayne converted a second-and-13 on a quarterback draw, racing into Cougar territory at the 49. Two plays later, he again ran out of the shotgun, gaining 18 yards to the Keys' 29. Facing third-and-five at the 24, Swayne targeted Lloyd near the right sideline on a screen pass that was good for 14 yards. After two incomplete passes, Swayne scored standing up on third-and-goal from the 10. The point-after kick was low and missed, leaving Lincoln with a 24-13 deficit with 5.9 seconds showing in the first quarter.

Stilwell returned Lincoln's kickoff 25 yards to the Cougars' 49 as a disastrous first quarter finally came to an end for Lincoln. The Wolves were whistled for an offsides penalty to start the second quarter and their woes continued. Keys took only seven plays to reach the end zone, scoring on Corry's second-effort quarterback sneak from the two. Keys converted this time, using a Statue of Liberty play with Daughtery taking the ball and racing to the left pylon to move ahead, 32-13, with 9:19 to go before halftime.

Keys made adjustments on defense to stop Lincoln's passing attack and tightened their run defense. Terrell and Winslow dropped Lloyd for a loss and Winslow sacked Swayne, bringing up second-and-13. On third down, Swayne completed a pass for positive yardage, but the play was negated by the horse-collar penalty when a lineman grabbed a speed rusher, who had gone past him, by the back of his shoulder pads and flung him to the ground. Lincoln never recovered from a third-and-28 at their own seven and had to punt from their own end zone.

Keys took over in Lincoln territory at the 45, overcoming a 15-yard block-in-the-back penalty to drive for another touchdown on Corry's 12-yard pass to Pippin. The conversion failed, but Keys led Lincoln, 38-13, with 2:47 remaining in the first-half and the rout was on. Keys added a final touchdown when Stilwell ran six yards for a score to conclude an 86-yard fourth quarter drive. Daughtery ran in the conversion for 2 points and Keys won, 46-13.

Lincoln finishes up the nonconference season at Mansfield Friday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

Sports on 09/14/2016