Saturday, December 14, 2024

Prep Football: Lincoln Claims Second State Title in Three Years with 28-26 Victory Over Pittsburg


Lincoln Hornets
2024 CIF Division 1-AA State Champions

SADDLEBACK COLLEGE - The Lincoln Hornets (12-2) are CIF Division 1-AA State Champions for the second time in three seasons after emerging victorious over the Pittsburg Pirates (12-3), claiming a 28-26 win Friday night in a classic championship battle. Led by Oregon-bound quarterback Akili Smith Jr.'s four touchdowns, Lincoln withstood a masterful performance from Washington State signee Jamar Searcy to secure the title.

The Hornets struck first when Smith Jr. connected with Courtney Miller-Thompson for a touchdown in the opening quarter. Pittsburg answered in the second quarter as Searcy, who finished with an incredible 198 yards rushing on 23 carries, broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run to knot the score at 7-7.

Lincoln regained the lead before halftime when Smith Jr. found Ty Olsen for a perfectly executed toe-tap touchdown catch, but Pittsburg mounted an impressive two-minute drill, capped by Searcy's short touchdown plunge with just seconds remaining in the half to tie the game at 14-14.

The third quarter saw both teams trading heavyweight punches. Smith Jr. connected with Isaiah Grant on a 77-yard swing pass, with Grant breaking a tackle before racing down the sideline to put Lincoln ahead 21-14. Searcy, who also added 67 receiving yards to his stellar performance, responded with another touchdown run. A crucial missed extra point, however, left Pittsburg trailing 21-20.

The game's defining sequence came in the fourth quarter when Lincoln orchestrated a masterful 80-yard, 12-play drive that featured exclusively running plays. The march was capped by Smith Jr.'s seven-yard touchdown run to extend Lincoln's lead to 28-20 with 3:44 remaining. The Pirates refused to go quietly, as quarterback Marley Alcantara led a quick response drive before Searcy powered into the end zone from four yards out with 1:38 left, cutting the deficit to 28-26.

The Pirates' hopes ultimately came down to a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game, but Lincoln's Isaiah Bartolome made the defensive play of the night, stopping Searcy short of the goal line. After a failed onside kick attempt was recovered by Lincoln's Dameian Watkins Jr., the Hornets' defense sealed their second state title in three years when Prince Tavizon sacked Alcantara on Pittsburg's final desperate attempt.

The victory was particularly sweet for Lincoln, who played the entire season without a home field due to construction and renovations, forcing them to practice off-site and travel for every game. The Hornets' ground attack was relentless despite missing leading rusher Aden Jackson, as Donald Reed III (126 yards) and Junior Curtis (121 yards) combined for nearly 250 yards rushing.

For Pittsburg, the loss marked a heartbreaking end to an otherwise stellar 11-3 campaign that included victories over traditional powers such as Folsom and San Ramon Valley.


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