Lincoln braces for Lavaca ground attack
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
LINCOLN - When your football team hasn't won a game in more than two years, you might start to feel like fate is conspiring against you.
With last week's 35-14 loss to Elkins, the Lincoln Wolves fell to 0-5 on the season and haven't had many balls bounce their way in 2008.
"Sometimes you feel like you can't catch a break," Lincoln coach Brad Harris said. "But like I told our guys, you have to make your own breaks."
Lincoln's seniors have yet to taste victory on the high school level. In their first game as sophomores in 2006, they tied Westville, Okla., their only non-loss.
But that kind of adversity has toughened the senior Wolves.
"We had some kids come back [Monday ] with a good attitude, ready to practice," Harris said. "They're not ready to throw the towel in, so that's a good sign for us."
After Elkins missed a field goal on its first drive last Friday, Lincoln looked to take an early lead by moving the ball the length of the field to inside the Elkins 5.
Some missed blocking assignments and a stingy Elks defense conspired to halt Lincoln's march on fourth down at the 1-yard line.
"Elkins stiffened up when they had their backs against the wall," Harris said. "They made the plays and we didn't."
Despite the final score, Lincoln played pretty well on offense, gaining almost 300 yards and 16 first downs to Elkins' 19.
"There were signs of improvement again last week," Harris said. "We just missed some opportunities here and there. It's like the same song, different verse."
Lincoln has struggled on defense, especially in giving up the big play.
"We've got to play better defense," Harris said. "That's what's hurting us right now."
Running back Steffan Espinoza, a big play waiting to happen, leads Lavaca into Lincoln this Friday at 7 p.m.
"We have to keep him bottled up," Harris said. "If he gets outside, he's got more speed than we have."
Out of their Wing-T set, the Golden Arrows attempted just one pass in last week's win over Cedarville. They were content to just hand the ball to Travis Michael and Espinoza, who rushed for more than 2, 000 yards last season.
With the exception of Greenland, Lavaca will field the largest defensive front the Wolves have faced this year.
Against Elkins, Lincoln speedy junior Bao Nguyen had 81 rushing yards on Lincoln's early drive that stalled on the goal line. He got hurt against Greenland in Week 4 but rushed for 120 yards and a score last Friday.
"He bounced back and had a good game for us last week," Harris said. "We're going to need an even bigger game from his this week."
Harris is happy with his ground attack featuring Nguyen and sophomores Ezequiel Hernandez and Justin Carr, but don't be surprised if he doesn't turn the passing game loose some against Lavaca.
"We've run the ball pretty well, but this week we might try and air it out a little," Harris said. "The weather hasn't been real conducive to that."
Lincoln has practiced in the rain this week, but the field at Wolves Stadium is in good shape, Harris said.
Freshman quarterback Zac Summers completed 15-of-30 passes against Elkins and is developing a rapport with receivers Carr and Zach Shedd. The duo combined for 8 catches for 87 yards last week.
Two-way player Shedd is getting more consistent catching the ball, Harris said. He's been playing catch-up after not suiting up at all last season.
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