WCEL Football Preview

WCEL Football Preview 2018

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LINCOLN — A seasoned quarterback, ramped-up rushing attack and influx of sophomores put Lincoln in position to earn its first playoff berth since 2015 this year. Lincoln opens its season at home Aug. 31 competing against Westville, Okla., in the "State Line Standoff," with the winner getting to display a trophy that will go to whichever team comes out victorious each year. The Wolves were forced to rely on their passing game and first-year quarter- back Caleb Lloyd often during the 2017 season in which they went 3-7, missing the playoffs. In 2018, things are different, and optimism is brimming in Lincoln as Don Harrison begins his fourth season as head coach. OFFENSE Quarterback As a junior Lloyd went 156 for 315, amassing 1,912 passing yards and 18 touchdowns with 15 interceptions. Lincoln averaged 191 passing yards-per- game — not bad for starting a converted tailback. He should be even better as a senior. Sophomore Tyler Brewer (6-4, 195) is a capable backup, whom Harrison wants to groom in spot situations early in the season. Running Backs Opponents didn't consider playing eight or nine men in the box against Lincoln last year. The presence of converted senior wide receiver Cam Brown (6-2, 195) lining up at tailback this season might prompt them to think about it, especially on early downs. If they get too focused on the sweep, Lloyd (6-0, 225) can be a bull-rusher at quarterback and pound the ball up the middle. He did that a lot last season, particularly in goal line and short yard- age situations with 63 carries for 238 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 3.7-yards-per-run. The backup is junior Christian Sellers (6-1, 175), who like Brown shifts from wide receiver to tailback after getting the coaches' attention as a scout team running back in 2017. Sophomore Noe Avellanda (5-8, 185) will start as a slot receiver after playing tailback the last three seasons. As a freshman, Avellanda rushed 90 times for 728 yards, an aver- age carry of 8.1 yards with 7 touchdowns on the junior high squad. He caught 12 passes for 155 yards, averaging 12.9 yards per catch in junior high. Senior fullback Bradley Drain will be a handful because of his size. Tight End Sophomore Levi Wright (6-4, 245) caught 17 passes for 300 yards in his first season playing tight end last year as a freshman on the junior high squad. He was hard to bring down after the catch, averaging 17.6 yards with a touchdown and only one dropped pass for the 2017 junior Wolves. "We're expecting a lot of big things from him," Harrison said. "He's doing a really good job for us, and again, another one of those sophomores that's stepping up." Blake Arnold (6-0, 175) will see some time at tight end when Wright, who plays defense, needs a beak. Wide Receivers Sophomore Daytin Davis (6-2, 175) is Lincoln's X. He takes Braden Umberson's spot. "If you watched our (junior high) games last year, that's the guy that we like to throw the ball to, that's the guy we like to isolate and try and get one on one matchups so Daytin Davis is over there," Harrison said. Last year as a freshman, Davis caught 34 passes for 473 yards averaging 13.9 yards with 8 touchdowns in junior high. Sterling Morphis (6-3, 165) is going to be Lincoln's Z. "Sterling was a guy that should have played a lot last year, but broke his hand and missed a lot of time last year because the break was so bad on the hand," Harri- son said. "Of course, with a cast on, he couldn't play receiver. He's a guy that's really doing a good job as a senior and we're really excited about having him on one side of the field and I think Caleb likes throwing the ball to him, too." Avellanda looks like he's going to be the A, which is Lincoln's slot, a little back that Harrison likes to bring in the back- field and give the ball. "He's kind of our quick receiver out there," Harrison said. Hunter Phelan (5-11, 165), who started most of 2017 at that same position, will 8 | EntErprisE-LEadEr WEdnEsday, aug. 29, 2018 2018 Football Preview MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Lincoln's 2018 varsity football team has the most depth and biggest variety of skilled offensive players since Don Harrison became head coach in 2015. These Wolves are hungry for the playoffs, about 40 strong and expect to compete well in league play. By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER SEE LINCOLN PAGE 9

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