Lincoln Prep has pretty much dominated the Interscholastic League in recent years, claiming two outright IL titles and tying for another over the last three seasons.
The competition hasn’t been the best. The Blue Tigers are 12-1 in league play since 2017. In an effort to prepare for a postseason run, this year’s schedule included non-league games against Lansing, Pembroke Hill and Maryville.
Results have been mixed to say the least.
On Saturday, Lincoln, 4-2 overall on the season and 1-0 in league play, will take on Kansas City Central, 2-5, 1-2. The Blue Tigers look to rebound from a 49-10 thumping at the hands of Maryville in Week 7.
The Spoofhounds’ physicality sent Lincoln back to the drawing board this week, head coach William Lowe said. A new week brought a renewed focus. And a change in practice locations.
The squad no longer has the privilege of practicing on the school’s blue Boise State-style artificial playing surface, Lowe said.
“We did not play with the physicality and effort that we expect last week so this week we have been practicing at the old dirt field across the street from our stadium,” he said. “Our team has lost the right to use our turf for a while.”
The move has no expiration date, Lowe said. Everything is earned. Nothing is given.
“Once our effort level and physicality get back to where we expect it to be then we can get back on our turf,” he said.
The Blue Eagles are coming off an 18-16 win over University Academy. The victory was on the second of the year for Central, but DJ Pittel’s squad fields about 23 players. The effort has been steady. A group of seniors, led by Senior Walter Taylor IV, have made a way. Results have followed.
In other IL news, East, 2-5, 2-2, is on the road Friday at Chillicothe, while Northeast, 0-5, 0-2, will travel to Pembroke Hill.
