Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1282037
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 Enterprise-Leader 7C F o o t b a l l P r e v i e w H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H 824-5459 303 W. Pridemore • Lincoln American Drive-In Serving Lincoln since 1958 with H Burgers H Fries H Shakes PROUDLY SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL TEAMS! WEST WASHINGTON COUNTY CLINIC Your family medical home. 2 locations: On the square and 102 E. School Street in Lincoln | 479-824-3196 PO Box 800 (106 Park St.) • Lincoln, AR USA 72744 • 479-267-2120 • Fax 479-267-4397 Susan Portis Ferguson, MD • Jennifer Cheatham, MD • Tera Thompson, APRN Board Certified Family Medicine LINCOLN — Writing off Lincoln as 3A-1 Conference coaches appear to have done, picking the Wolves to finish fourth in the league as they drop in classification only creates additional incentive. "You know it's something that we definitely have talked about," said Reed Mendoza, who returns to Lincoln as head coach after a year at Dover. "We're not huge on negative motivation. We want to keep our focus on what our goals are for the year and worry about us, not so much as the outside world, but we definitely under- stand and are aware of what people have predicted us to do." Defensive coordinator Beau Collins is the only coach returning from a year ago following a mass exodus after former head coach Don Harrison was dismissed Jan. 6. Long-time assistant, Austin Lewis, the last coach left at Lincoln from the 2013 historic team which reached the Class 4A quarter- finals and won the school's first and only playoff games, left to take the head junior high job at his alma mater of Farmington while assistant coach Hunter Corbell went to Elkins, Lincoln's season-opening oppo- nent Aug. 28. On the positive side Mendoza, who served as offensive coordinator and head junior high coach at Lincoln from 2017-2018, will operate from a system very similar to what Harrison used with tweaks. Mendo- za's knowledge of the senior and junior class personnel, who he coached at the junior high level in Lincoln, benefits the program. "I felt like it was pretty much a seamless transition for us outside of a bunch of new assistants," Mendoza said. "That's been an adjustment, the kid's learning to adjust to the new staff, how the new staff's going to work because since I was here before we are doing a lot of things different, but some things stayed the same. I don't believe in changing things just for the sake of change." New to Lincoln's staff are J Keith, head baseball coach; Mason Wann and Isaac Johnson with volunteer assistant Tyler Asher. "On top of that with the kids and the coaches, the coaches have to have time to adjust, too; to a new job and a new staff to that's been a little bit of an obstacle for us," Mendoza said. "But as for me personally I stepped back in, knew what to expect with the school, knew what to expect with the kids and so I think that definitely gave us a leg up." The nonconference matchup on the road at Elkins, a team picked to contend for a 4A-1 playoff berth, in zero week will provide Mendoza good feedback on what he needs to perfect. Last season the Wolves averaged 30.0 points-per-game while yielding 28.1. Lincoln returns seven starters on both sides of the ball and if they stay healthy — look out. OFFENSE Quarterback Last season Lincoln started off 3-0 before starting quarterback Tyler Brewer (6-5, 215) went down followed by backup Noe Avellanda, who started at quarter- back in week five. Starting tight end Levi Wright (6-4, 240) shifted to quarterback and proved he could play at that posi- tion, leading the Wolves to a tough, 39-34, comeback victory on the road to spoil Berryville's Homecoming. "Right now, we've got a little bit of a battle going on between Tyler and Levi. Levi played some quarterback last year. They both bring different things to the table, but we definitely feel like both of them are capable," Mendoza said. Sophomore Brody Bowen (6-0, 155) is also capable, but will likely play elsewhere this season. Running backs Senior Matthew Sheridan (5-8, 175) and junior Caleb Matthews (5-10, 175) will play tailback. Matthews suffered an off-the-field injury Aug. 17 which put him out tempo- rarily so Wright fills in. "Matt and Levi will carry the ball, then sophomore Lane Sellers (5-9, 150) could factor in. Lane's a kid that's undersized, really not physically built yet, but just a hard-nosed football player," Mendoza said. By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER Wolves Motivated By Preseason Picks CHIP ON THE SHOULDER MINDSET, TALENT MAKES LINCOLN DANGEROUS MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Lincoln receiver Daytin Davis (6-3, 175) always draws a crowd as shown during a game against Gentry. Opponents still can't stop this hard-working athlete from making plays. SEE LINCOLN PAGE 8C