LINCOLN -- Mansfield's first two series went nowhere despite starting in Lincoln territory and the Wolves soon began racking up points on the way to Friday's 52-6 conference win.
With the defense and special teams posturing the offense, Lincoln exploded for 31 first half points not looking in the least like a team which surrendered a 35-28 lead and lost in the final seconds to Greenland the week before -- something that wasn't lost on Lincoln head coach Reed Mendoza.
"It was extremely tough at Greenland, you know, we take the lead by seven with a minute, fifteen left. Then we end up coming up a little bit short and the way they started tonight says a lot more about their character because a lot of teams would have come out and started sluggish," Mendoza said. "We just didn't do that. We were prepared to play, we played very well and we executed from the start."
Lincoln linebacker Cody Webb belted the intended receiver on Mansfield's first possession helping limit Mansfield quarterback Zayne Dugan to an 0-for-6 start passing. The Tigers turned the ball over on downs at Lincoln's 45, then after a Lincoln punt, repeated with a turnover on downs at the Wolves' 39.
Lincoln went to work. Matthew Sheridan picked his path, following blockers for 9 yards and a first down at midfield. Then quarterback Tyler Brewer (6-5, 210) passed to Kyler Calvin for 11 yards and hit Daytin Davis on a 39-yard touchdown spotting the Wolves a 7-0 lead.
Mansfield fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Lincoln recovered at the Tiger 21. On second down, Brewer found Davis for another touchdown pushing Lincoln out to a 14-0 advantage with 6:35 left in the first quarter.
"We started well, definitely, I feel like the best start we've had on offense, and the defense did their job as well," Mendoza said. "I feel like that's the cleanest game we've played collectively as far as both units go, making sure we take care of our assignments. Not as many penalties tonight, just overall a lot cleaner football."
Penalties were a major contributor to Lincoln's downfall at Greenland, but the Wolves ironed that out, even overcoming a 58-yard punt by Dugan that rolled dead at the Wolves' nine.
Sheridan blazed his way for 22 yards on second-and-10 to get the Wolves out of the shadow of their own goal line. Lincoln gained 84 yards and added a 24-yard field goal by sophomore Teague Vange, who also sent two kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks and made good on 7-of-7 extra-point kicks while demonstrating the kind of talent Mendoza wants to spice up the kicking game.
"We've begged him to play since he was a seventh grader and finally got him talked into it because we've watched him kick a soccer ball around this place for the last five years and he can hammer one," Mendoza said. "So, we got him bought in and he's a weapon for us."
Lincoln led 17-0 after one period of play and didn't seem to skip a beat without starting quarterback Levi Wright.
Mansfield's only score of the night came in the second quarter on Dugan's shovel pass to Austin Carlton, who got behind Lincoln's defense and outran everybody down the sideline for a 37-yard touchdown, narrowing Lincoln's lead to 17-6.
Senior Audie Ramsey recovered a Tiger onside kick and returned it across the 50. Brewer then led the Wolves on a pair of touchdown drives to put Lincoln firmly in command. He connected with Davis on a third touchdown for 34 yards, then found Ramsey slipping out of the tight end spot and getting wide open at the one. The senior stepped into the end zone untouched.
The halftime score showed Lincoln ahead 31-6 and Mendoza praised the play of Brewer.
"Levi's got an ankle injury right now, just felt like it was best to hold him; and of course, we have 100 percent confidence in Tyler Brewer," Mendoza said. "Tyler Brewer's a leader, he's experienced, he knows the offense and he stepped in and did a great job."
Davis picked off a Mansfield pass in the third quarter. Sheridan ran four times for 36 yards and touchdown. Playing linebacker on defense, Ramsey broke up a pass on fourth down ending Mansfield's next series when they gambled in desperation and went for it on fourth-and-three from their own 27.
Sheridan broke a 22-yard down run and the third quarter concluded with Lincoln leading 45-6.
Lincoln junior quarterback Brodey Bowen took over and scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter stretching the final margin to 52-6.
LINCOLN 52, MANSFIELD 6
Mansfield^0^6^0^0--^6
Lincoln^17^14^14^7--^52
First Quarter
Lincoln-- Daytin Davis 39-yard pass from Tyler Brewer (Teague Vange kick).
Lincoln -- Daytin Davis 21-yard pass from Tyler Brewer (Teague Vange kick), 6:35
Lincoln -- Teague Vange 24-yard field goal.
Second Quarter
Mansfield -- Austin Carlton 37-yard pass from Zayne Dugan (kick blocked).
Lincoln -- Daytin Davis 34-yard pass from Tyler Brewer (Teague Vange kick).
Lincoln-- Audie Ramsey 15-yard pass from Tyler Brewer (Teague Vange kick), 7:53
Third Quarter
Lincoln -- Matthew Sheridan 1-yard run (Teague Vange kick), 2:53
Lincoln -- Matthew Sheridan 22-yard run (Teague Vange kick), 0:06
Fourth Quarter
Lincoln -- Brodey Bowen 3-yard run (Teague Vange kick), 7:46