Lincoln Christian had no problem taking care of business on a short week, as the Bulldogs traveled to far eastern Oklahoma and easily took care of Muldrow on Thursday night, winning 48-0.

No. 1 Lincoln (7-0, 4-0) raced out to a 42-0 halftime lead, dominating again on both sides of the ball as the Bulldogs won their 20th straight game and 40th straight district game.

"We had a great week of practice considering it was a shortened week," said Lincoln head coach Jerry Ricke. "Our guys were very business-like and focused this week and I think that showed up on Thursday night."

The Bulldogs were in complete control on both sides of the ball in the opening half, scoring six times and picking up five first downs on just 17 plays offensively.

Lincoln had 218 yards in the opening half, while simultaneously shutting down anything Muldrow attempted to get going when they had the ball.

The Bulldogs held Muldrow to just 48 yards in the 1st half, while also forcing the Bulldogs into 0-of-9 on 3rd down.

"I thought we did a really good job executing last night," said Lincoln defensive coordinator Jeff Comfort. "We had some things we needed to correct from last week and we accomplished that. The kids came to work this week in practice and it showed up Thursday night."

The defense got right to work, forcing a 3-and-out on Muldrow's opening possession, getting the offense the ball with good field position.

The Bulldogs needed just just five plays to cash in on the opening drive, as Braden Baker scored on a 17-yard run to cap off the 51-yard drive, making it 7-0 with 7:25 to go in the 1st quarter.

Muldrow (4-3, 1-3) moved the ball on the ensuing drive for over five minutes, working it across midfield into Lincoln territory.

But on the 9th play of the drive, facing a 3rd and long, Lincoln senior linebacker Micah Kruse chased down Muldrow QB Teaguen Collins from behind for a sack after the Bulldogs' pash rush forced him out of the pocket.

On the following play, Muldrow went for it on 4th down, as Collins was pressured again, but completed a short pass to DeShawn Wilson. The Lincoln defense read it the entire way, as senior linebackers Creed Nail and Mason Torres tackled the receiver for a 3-yard loss and turnover on downs.

"Our front seven was disruptive and we covered well in the secondary against a really talented quarterback," Comfort said. "Our defensive line got pressure all night and our linebackers cleaned anything up that got through. They challenged us on a couple of deep balls that we did a good job of covering."

The defense didn't have long to rest, as the offense immediately extended the lead.

On the first play after the turnover on downs, as Lincoln quarterback Carter Ricke found Baker down the Bulldogs' sideline on a screen.

The junior weaved in-and-out of great blocking down the field, cruising in for a 56-yard touchdown, making it 14-0 with 1:38 to go in the 1st.

Lincoln extended the lead after pinning Muldrow deep and forcing a punt that went zero yards.

Freshman running back CJ Wright coasted in on the first play following the punt for a 6-yard touchdown, making it 21-0 with 11:53 to go in the 1st half.

The Bulldogs extended the lead later in the 2nd, after two more punts forced by the defense.

Muldrow, backed up to its own 1, punted out to just their own 16, allowing Lincoln to take over from there.

Two plays later, Baker found the end zone from six yards out, his third touchdown on just his third touch of the night, stretching the lead to 28-0 with 7:59 to go in the 2nd quarter.

"Braeden has done a tremendous job for us on both sides of the ball this year," said Ricke. "He had a nagging injury to start the year and you are seeing him healthy and playing at his best. He is a very physical runner, which fits our style well. Defensively, he is one of the more vocal guys out there, getting us lined up correctly and in the right calls."

Muldrow picked up one first down but the Lincoln defense stymied the Bulldogs again, forcing another turnover on downs. Muldrow lost 20 yards after a fumbled snap on the punt, setting Lincoln up at the opponents' 7-yard line.

Wright ran it in from there on the following play, his second score of the night behind some great blocking on the edge, pushing the Bulldogs' lead out to 35-0 with 5:13 to go in the half.

Lincoln ran for 136 yards as a team on just 23 carries, led by the offensive line and the three big blocking backs that are crucial to the Bulldog offense in seniors Luke McCants and Dawson Fullingim and sophomore Rain Ragland.

"Those three guys are so important to our blocking schemes," Ricke said. "They are usually at the point of attack on many of our runs and screens and they do a great job blocking in space. I love the physicality of those three as it sets the tone for what we want to do offensively."

The final scoring drive of the first half would come after another Muldrow drive that went backwards, as the Lincoln defense continued to wreak havoc with pressure and pursuit.

"The defense continues to play great," Ricke said. "Our first team defense has not given up a point in district play thus far, which is very impressive. I am proud of the amount of preparation Coach Comfort puts into his guys each week. It shows up on Friday nights."

Lincoln got the ball back on the Muldrow 49 and after a penalty backed the Bulldogs up, Ricke found one of his top pass catchers for a big play.

The junior threw a perfect pass over the middle to senior receiver Jack Milligan, who reached up and snagged it in stride, outrunning the defense for a 50-yard score and his 4th touchdown in as many games.

"Jack continues to help our team in so many ways. He is very consistent in practice and I think that shows up in games," said Ricke. "We need him to complement Kylan well and I think you are seeing that play out. He and Carter continue to develop that connection we will need as we continue toward the end of the season."

The pitch and catch made it 42-0 at half.

Lincoln added its final score late in the the 3rd, as Evan Jameson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, capping off a 5-play, 43-yard drive with under a minute to go in the quarter.

Fullingim was the leading rusher for Lincoln, carrying three times for 40 yards, to go along with a 23-yard reception.

Milligan had two catches for 61 yards, while fellow senior Kylan Schultheis had two grabs for 32 yards.

Ricke was 6-for-9 for 172 yards passing, to go along with two scores and two interceptions.

Lincoln ran just 32 plays on the night, but totaled 308 yards on offense.

Nail led the way for the defense with six tackles, two of them for loss. Torres and Colt Monsey each had four stops and one tackle for loss.

Kruse and Baker had three tackles apiece defensively.

The Bulldogs held Muldrow to just 1-of-12 on 3rd down and 0-of-4 on 4th down.

Muldrow had just 44 rushing yards on 26 attempts as a team. Lincoln also held Collins in check passing, as he was just 5-of-15 for 44 yards on the night.

Photos by Lee Talley