MANSFIELD - The Lincoln varsity broke into the win column with a come-from-behind, 51-24, nonconference win at Mansfield Friday.
Mansfield held a Saturday morning session Sept. 10 after falling, 40-20, to Greenland the night before. The Tiger coaching staff reported good attendance and work, saying they found things to build off from the Greenland game and corrected some mistakes from week one. Noting Friday's final nonconference game of the season at home against 4A Lincoln began what Mansfield's coaches termed a "tough three-game stretch" that includes road games at 3A-4 foes, Paris and Lamar, they prepared the team to make an effort towards upstaging the 0-2 Wolves.
Both teams suffered similar fates, at least statistically, in their first two games. Lincoln had been outscored 88-20 while Mansfield was outscored 85-20 in weeks one and two. Going in the Wolves knew their pass defense was likely to be tested by Mansfield with junior quarterback Brennan James (5-11, 155) completing 20 of 35 passes for 240 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions against Greenland the previous week. James' completion percentage was a solid .571 with the Tigers averaging 12 yards per catch with a quarterback rating of 73.5. Mansfield also scored on senior Spencer Davis' 28-yard pass.
According to the scouting report, the Tigers appeared to be vulnerable to the pass. Greenland quarterback Austin Anderson completed 60 percent of his passes (9-15) for 228 yards against Mansfield with the Pirates averaging 25.3 per catch and Anderson's quarterback rating at 143.8. Mansfield also appeared susceptible to the run in a week one, 45-0, loss to Waldron. The Bulldogs ran the ball 38 times for 363 yards, averaging 9.6 yards-per-rush with five touchdowns. Greenland piled up 184 yards on the ground against Mansfield on 37 rushes for a productive 5.0 yards-per-carry and three touchdowns.
This was what Lincoln knew they had to prepare for defensively, a unit that was severely handicapped by special teams' mishaps and wound up having to defend a short field six times in the first half against Keys, Okla., in week two. In that game, Lincoln's kick coverage allowed Keys an average start at their own 43 with two other drives originating in Lincoln territory due to a fumbled kickoff and failure to cover an onside kick.
Mansfield had their way early, building a 17-7 lead, but after a weather delay, Lincoln fought back. The Wolves cut the lead to 17-14, then surged ahead, 20-17, on their way to assuming a commanding, 51-17 lead before a late Mansfield touchdown made the final, 51-24. Lincoln hosts Gravette as 4A-1 play begins Friday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Wolfpack Stadium.
Sports on 09/21/2016