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Photo Credit: Nick Smith/PrepsKC

In this battle for bragging rights, Lincoln College Prep left little doubt about which team is among the best in the city.

Lincoln used a patient running game and a swarming defense to suffocate the Yellowjackets in a 29-14 win. With the victory, the Blue Tigers finished the regular season undefeated and staked their claim as Kings of the City.

"That's going to lead us all the way right there," sophomore running back John Price said. "We're on a state run right now,"

Price scored three touchdowns against Center and looked like a future star at running back.

"We've known all year that (Price) was a stud," Lincoln Prep head coach William Lowe said. "He took this game personal."

Lincoln Prep and Center spent much of the first two quarters of Friday's game getting a feel for each other. Sure, players on both teams knew each other from the youth circuit. And bragging rights were on the line in this crosstown matchup at Lincoln. But just like any heavyweight tilt, the only way to figure out who was better was to go toe-to-toe.

Ultimately a lack of explosive plays and turnovers doomed the Yellowjackets in the DiPasquale-Moore Law Metro Matchup of the Week. Lincoln improved to 9-0. Center dropped to 5-3 and lost starting quarterback Joseph Vick and promising sophomore running back Jacorey Love to injury early in the fourth quarter.

"They are very explosive football players that helps us with that offense," Center head coach Bryan DeLong said. "I don't know what their injuries are. I haven't talked to the trainer. Hopefully its nothing serious."

The Blue Tigers bottled up Center's running game much of the game and kept the Yellowjackets from gaining much traction through the air. Lincoln swarmed the ball all evening and finished plays with solid tackling. It was a sound display of defensive football.

"Defense was lights out," Lowe said. "All I heard about all week was how explosive their offense was and how they were going to score so many points. Our defense stepped up."

Center's Love, a talented sophomore running back, was an anticipated problem heading into the game. Love had moments when he flashed dazzling speed and open-field skills. But Lincoln kept him off balance most of the night.

"We couldn't get anything going," DeLong said.

The fireworks started early for Lincoln Prep. A 43-yard kickoff return to start the game from A'justin Pearson was followed by Price's 31-yard run. Price completed a short drive with a 6-yard touchdown run. Less than three minutes into the game, Lincoln was up 7-0.

A muffed punt gave Lincoln a first down at the Center 19-yard line with about one minute left in the first quarter. Price fought off tackles at the line of scrimmage, spun and dragged a few defenders with him to the endzone on a tough-as-nails 17-yard touchdown run to put the host in front 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Down by two scores more than halfway through the second quarter, the Yellowjackets' DeAndre Pruett picked off a pass from Lincoln's Zack Shelby to give Center a much-needed spark.

The Yellowjackets took over at Lincoln's 36 and went to work. Jeff Strozier took a jet sweep 22 yards to the 14 and Love followed with a 14-yard touchdown run. Love was hit at the 5 but powered his way to the endzone. He finished the run by diving for the pylon and was rewarded for his efforts when game officials signaled the score was good.

And just like that, Center was back in it with 5 minutes left before halftime.

Price broke off a 56-yard run to the Center 10 to quiet the noise. Center's defense didn't buckle, holding Lincoln to a 27-yard field goal attempt, which Mohaimin Alwaely converted with ease. The kick extended the lead to 17-7 with 3 minutes remaining before the break.

On fourth-and-one from its own 30-yard-line Center took a chance. But the gamble didn't pay off. The Yellowjackets came up empty giving Lincoln the ball with 1:08 on the clock. It was a pivotal moment and the Blue Tigers struck immediately.

Shelby's rainbow to a streaking D'eaven Roberson for a 30-yard score was the turning point of the contest. The Yellowjackets trailed 23-7 and never recovered.

"Very disappointed there in the first half," DeLong said. "We go for it and don't get it. We have a big physical line and an All-State caliber running back but hats off to Lincoln. They beat us tonight."

Price helped push the Blue Tigers' lead to 29-7 with his third TD of the game in the third quarter The TD was the third of the game for Price, which left the sophomore and his teammates feeling good about their performance.

"Feels great," Price said of the Blue Tigers' second undefeated regular season in three years. "Let us know we're doing something right."

Kortez Stevenson's twisting catch in the end zone from 14 yards out accounted for the Yellowjackets' final score.