The Glenbrook Apaches rolled past the Lincoln Prep Panthers 50-34 Thursday night in Grambling.
Glenbrook improved to 4-5 overall and 1-2 in District 1-1A with its second straight victory. Lincoln Prep dropped to 3-6 and 1-2.
The Apaches scored on seven of their first eight possessions. The only one they didn’t score on was a defensive touchdown by Lincoln Prep in the third quarter.
“We just kind of came out with some power running formations and sets and things like that and kind of leaned on our size,” Glenbrook Coach James Thurman said. “Just put a bunch of people at the point of attack, and we just kind of felt like they wouldn’t be able to hold up to that all night.
“Really challenged the boys to come out and be physical and bring the fight to them, and they heard that call and did a good job of it.”
As of Friday morning, Glenbrook was No. 15 in the select Division IV power rankings but its win Thursday wasn’t factored in. The No. 9-16 teams in the final rankings host first-round games.
The Apaches close the regular season next Friday at Arcadia with a chance to head into the playoffs with a three-game winning streak. The Hornets (0-8) had an open date this week.
“That was kind of our goal.” Thurman said. “We knew these last three weeks were very winnable games. We knew that from the start of the season that five-and-five was a very good possibility with our schedule and we really felt like if we could finish out this season with all three wins we would be putting ourselves in a pretty good place playoff-wise. So far the last two games we’ve done that. So we’ve just got to finish it out next week”.
Lincoln Prep kept the game close through the third quarter thanks mainly to the play of quarterback Jabari Levingston, one of the best athletes in North Louisiana. He threw two touchdown passes and ran for one in the first half.
Even so, Glenbrook took a 29-20 lead with 16 seconds left in the second quarter on a short pass from Louie Collins to Carson Powell and a two-point conversion by Kleaton Davis.
After Lincoln Prep scored the defensive touchdown to cut the lead to 29-26, the Apaches scored 21 straight points to put the game away.
Collins turned in an outstanding performance. He scored four rushing and threw a pair of touchdown passes.
Davis Powell, who ran the ball well, caught the final TD pass to give the Apaches a 50-26 with 8:37!left in the game.
Darron Hollingsworth and Carson Powell made some big catches in the first half. Carson Whitehead, Davis, Reagan and Collins had success running the ball.
A lot of that had to do with the dominant performance of the offensive line comprised of center Tristan Grigsby, guards Weston Duck and Nolan Still and tackles Franklin Bridwell and Bruce Bonnett. Aiden Nehls also contributed.
The defense contained Levingston and the Panthers offense much better in the second half. Lincoln Prep’s lone offensive touchdown came with 2:43 left in the game after a punt block.
The Panthers converted two third-and-long situations on a 53-yard touchdown drive on their first possession of the game. Levingston hit Josiah Spann with a 12-yard touchdown pass. A two-point conversion was successful.
Glenbrook answered with a six-play, 55-yard touchdown drive capped by a 1-yard Collins run. Scroggs made the first of six extra-point kicks.
Levingston scored on a 15-yard run on third down but the Apaches stopped the conversion attempt.
Glenbrook tied the game on a 68-yard drive keyed by a long pass from Collins to Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth had another catch and Collins scored from 9 yards out and the game was tied at 14 going into the second quarter.
After the Apaches forced a punt, Glenbrook took the lead for good. The Apaches went 69 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown.
Glenbrook overcame a holding penalty and converted a fourth-and-1 at the Panthers 12 on an 11-yard run by Collins. Reagan scored on a 1-yard run.
Lincoln Prep answered with a 19-yard touchdown pass by Levingston on fourth-and-goal. The drive was aided by penalties including an illegal participation against Glenbrook. Thurman said it was called because a player continued to compete after his helmet came off.
The Apaches stopped the two-point conversion and Glenbrook maintained a 21-20 lead.
Glenbrook took over with 2:56 left in the half. The Apaches had another 10-play touchdown drive with strong running by Reagan, Collins and Davis for the 29-20 halftime lead.
After Lincoln Prep got within three, the Apaches drove 70 yards for a touchdown, taking advantage of a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Panthers. Collins scored from one yard out and the Apaches led 36-26.
An interception by Hollingsworth set up the next touchdown drive. Collins scored on a 5-yard run on fourth and goal.
The Apaches’ final touchdown came on the pass to Powell.