The Lincoln Abes put together another solid performance to defeat the visiting Central Kitsap Cougars at historic Lincoln Bowl on homecoming night by a score of 41-14. The Oct. 17 victory moves the fifth-ranked Abes to 5-0 in the 3A Narrows league and 7-0 overall.
A win against Wilson (4-1, 6-1) Friday, Oct. 24, at Stadium Bowl would lock up the title for Lincoln. Expect a serious ballgame from Wilson, who still has a chance at the title and is battling for one of the coveted top two seeds out of the 3A Narrows, which will earn a home game for the play-in round of the state playoffs.
Junior Lincoln quarterback Jordan Kitna continued his assault through the air, racking up 367 yards passing on 22 of 36 attempts for five touchdowns and an interception. Kitna has now passed for 37 touchdowns this season and is approaching 3,000 yards.
Kitna had his leg rolled-up on a sack early in the second quarter and injured his ankle. Lincoln staff taped him up and worked him through a painful remainder of the game before handing the ball off to back-up quarterback, sophomore Joey Sinclair in the fourth quarter.
Junior running back Dionte Simon had a big night with 131 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Senior all-everything back Dehonta Hayes scored two touchdowns and set up the first score of the night with a 73-yard punt return.
Lincoln got on the board early working with a short field at the 17-yard line. An 11-yard pass to junior tight end Devin Brady put the Abes at the six-yard line and Kitna followed it up with another strike to Brady on the next play for a touchdown with 9:11 remaining in the first quarter. Lincoln led 7-0.
The Lincoln defense held Central Kitsap to a three and out on the next possession and the Abes took over at their own 40-yard line. Nine plays later Kitna found Simon open in up the middle for a short-gain and the junior did the rest. Meeting Cougar defenders at the three-yard line, Simon was stopped momentarily and then lowered his head and bull-rushed his way across the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown. The Abes now led 13-0 with 6:00 remaining in the second quarter.
The Cougars next series stalled at midfield and the two teams traded the ball off for the next five possessions before Lincoln got the ball back on its own 19-yard line. Simon caught another short pass and ran it out to the 38-yard line. On the next play, Kitna hit Simon again for a quick strike and Simon was off to the races for a 62-yard touchdown. Lincoln led 20-0 with 5:18 remaining in the second quarter.
After a fumble by the Cougars, followed by a Kitna interception, Central Kitsap took over on its own 26-yard line. Seven plays later, quarterback Kaleb Bates found receiver Kelsey Deer in the back right corner of the end zone and the Cougars were on the scoreboard. Lincoln now led 20-7 with 36-seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The two teams went nowhere on the first two series of the second half and then Lincoln took over at its own ten-yard line. Following some positive short gains, a 45-yard Kitna pass to senior receiver Jayson Williams put the Abes at the Cougar 29-yard line. Two plays later, Kitna dumped a short pass to Hayes and the speedster did the rest scoring a 26-yard touchdown. Lincoln now led 27-7 with6:51 remaining in the third quarter.
Central Kitsap made use of a 50-yard pass on the next possession to get within striking distance of the end zone. On third and three from the 14-yard line, Lincoln junior defensive tackle Xavier Baines lanced into the Cougar backfield and dropped running back DeAndre Sincere for a three yard loss. Bates’ next pass on fourth down fell incomplete and the Cougar threat was turned away.
Lincoln took over on downs at the 17-yard line and put together a six-play drive capped by another catch-and-run by Hayes for a 22-yard touchdown. Lincoln’s lead was now 34-7 with 1:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Newly-crowned homecoming king, senior Jusstis Warren, capped the scoring for the Abes in the fourth quarter with a 30-yard inside-outside run that ended with a dive onto the end zone pile-on with a defender draped across his back. Lincoln now led 41-7 with 3:32 remaining in the game.
After a long kickoff return, the Cougars rallied for one more score as Bates hit receiver Hudson Keffer for a 47-yard bomb that finished the scoring for the night at 41-14 Lincoln.
FOOTBALL SCORES AROUND TACOMA OCT. 17 & 18BELLARMINE - 20, YELM - 14
STADIUM - 41, TIMBERLINE - 28
WILSON - 13, FOSS - 0
CAPITAL - 57, MT. TAHOMA - 0
LIFE CHRISTIAN – 37, RAINIER - 20
FIFE - 29, ORTING - 13
STEILACOOM - 34, FRANKLIN PIERCE - 13
WASHINGTON - 47, WHITE RIVER - 14
RIVER RIDGE - 59, CLOVER PARK - 0
CURTIS - 28, BETHEL - 21
LAKES - 28, SUMNER - 10
SOUTH BEND - 41, CHIEF LESCHI – 16