Lincoln Prep Blue Tigers complete unbeaten regular season with 29-14 win against Center
Lincoln Prep and Center, separated by roughly 10 miles, are rivals throughout the school year — but rarely on the football field. Different classifications and conferences mean they rarely meet in games.
That changed on Friday. Both schools had an open date due to COVID-19 cancellations on their respective schedules, and the opportunity to rekindle a gridiron rivalry made too much sense.
Lincoln Prep defended the blue turf of its home field, capping an undefeated regular season with a 29-14 victory.
“It was really a game for the community and the fans,” Lincoln Prep coach William Lowe said. “It wasn’t going to affect our playoff seeding, it wasn’t going to affect Center’s playoff seeding. It was really just a fun game and to give the fans a game to play.
“We wanted to play this game, they wanted to play this game, and our kids just took it personal to step up and play hard.”
Center’s schedule this year has been filled with unknowns, so coach Bryan DeLong was happy to fill out the regular season with any game. The fact that it was against a local rival was an added bonus.
“Every week’s been a blessing this year,” DeLong said. “There’s been three weeks we’ve had a different opponent that what was originally scheduled, Week 2, Week 4 and Week 9, and we missed a week. It could’ve went better for the old Yellowjackets, but any week we get to play football is a good week.”
The Blue Tigers (9-0) capitalized on big plays to build a comfortable 23-7 halftime lead. Senior A’justin Pearson started the game by returning the opening kickoff 45 yards. Sophomore running back John Price followed that with a 41-yard run on Lincoln Prep’s first play from scrimmage. He capped the drive with a 6-yard scoring run on fourth and goal.
Lincoln Prep didn’t slow down after that. Price scored his second touchdown on an 18-yard run after the Blue Tigers recovered a muffed punt to push the lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter. They struck again right before halftime. Following a turnover on downs. D’eaven Roberson hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zack Shelby and the Blue Tigers never looked back.
The Blue Tigers didn’t throw much, but thanks to Price and their offensive line, they didn’t have to. Price finished with three touchdowns and about 200 yards rushing. It was only fitting that he closed out the game with a punishing 5-yard run for the final first down.
“We knew we had to come in prepared,” Price said. “We knew what they were made of, and we knew if gave them any inch they would’ve took off firing on all cylinders.
“So we knew we had to come with it, straight out the gate. That first drive got us going. We fed off that and kept going.”
Center (5-3) didn’t get out of the game unscathed. Junior quarterback Joseph Vick and sophomore running back Jacorey Love both left early with injuries.
“I pray they’re both alright, but I don’t know the severity yet,” DeLong said. “Lincoln did a good job of humbling us, and we need to go back to the drawing board. Like I told the kids, there’s plenty of blame to go around. We need to take a bite of the blame sandwich.”
Lincoln Prep, meanwhile, has a week off before starting its postseason run. The Blue Tigers completed their first undefeated regular season since 2019.
“Our kids are just physically tough and play really hard,” Lowe said. “When we were 3-7 in 2017, that’s hard to come back from. We just told them they had to believe they were good.”
The Blue Tigers’ belief has turned into results.
