No. 1 Lincoln Christian started fast and didn't let up, as the Bulldogs rolled at No. 6 Checotah on Friday night, blowing out the Wildcats 68-12.

Lincoln (8-0, 5-0) had 570 yards offensively on just 50 plays, while holding the talented Checotah offense in check, as the Bulldogs raced out to a big halftime lead.

The Bulldogs scored four touchdowns in each of the 1st and 2nd quarters, taking a 55-12 lead into the locker room.

The fast start is something Lincoln head coach Jerry Ricke and his staff talk about often, as Lincoln was sharp from the get-go on both sides. 

"We talk about it all of the time," Ricke said. "We preach it in practice and in the lead-up to the game. Our guys came out focused, knowing the game plan on both sides of the ball and that helped us with the fast start."

Lincoln was 8-of-9 on the night on 3rd down and had 25 first downs on offense, as the Bulldogs moved the ball up and down the field throughout the ballgame.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs' defense was outstanding again, as Checotah (5-3, 3-2) was just 1-of-10 on 3rd down and had just eight first downs in the game.

Lincoln ran for 357 yards as a team, averaging 9.6 yards per attempt. The Bulldogs were extremely efficient through the air, as well, as junior Carter Ricke had another outstanding game.

Ricke was 11-of-13 for 213 yards and five touchdowns.

The defense got things started on the opening drive for Lincoln, as the Bulldogs held on 4th and 1 from the Chectoah 29.

The Wildcats put the ball in the hands of their star player and OU commit, Elijah Thomas, but the senior was stuffed for no gain by senior defensive end Dawson Fullingim and sophomore safety Braeden Baker.

"The stop on the 1st drive on 4th down was huge," said Ricke. "It gave our offense a short field and we were able to punch that first drive in."

Fullingim finished it on the other side of the ball, as well, as the senior found a seam on the handoff and raced untouched up the middle for a 21-yard touchdown.

After the quick stop and score, it was 7-0 with 10:29 to go in the 1st.

The defense forced another quick punt from Chectoah, giving the Bulldogs the ball back at the Lincoln 30 after the punt.

The Bulldogs needed just four plays to score, as Baker bounced off several Chectoah defenders, spun around and raced 55 yards on an impressive touchdown run, making it 14-0 at the 7:56 mark of the 1st.

Lincoln held on 4th down again on the ensuing Checotah drive, as the Wildcats moved it inside the Bulldogs 10 after a 57-yard run by Jayden Ellen.

After Ellen's big run, Thomas was sacked on 3rd down and the Wildcats turned it over on an incomplete pass on 4th.

"Our defense had a really good week of practice, preparing for one of the best players in the state," said Ricke. "We have a couple of things to improve upon, but I thought we followed our game plan very well."

Ricke ran for 20 on 3rd down three plays later, moving it out to the Checotah 40 before the Bulldogs had another big play.

Fullingim took the handoff left, weaved through a perfectly blocked hole and raced untouched for a 60-yard touchdown. Lincoln led 21-0 with 4:00 to go in the 1st quarter.

The Bulldogs weren't done in the opening quarter, yet, however.

Lincoln forced a 3-and-out to get the ball back to the offense at midfield.

The Bulldogs immediately struck again, as Ricke hit freshman CJ Wright on a deep post route over the middle. The speedster caught it in stride at the 15 and scored easily to make it 28-0 heading into the 2nd quarter.

It was another week of big plays for the Lincoln offense, as the Dogs continue to hurt teams on the ground and through the air rapidly from any part of the field.

"We definitely have some weapons on offense, but we also work on execution in practice. We got the defensive looks we hoped for in those situations and capitalized on them in the moment," said Ricke.

Checotah picked up a 1st down on the ensuing drive, but that's it, as the Wildcats were forced to punt again after just six plays and nine yards.

Lincoln wasted no time again, as the Bulldogs scored in just three plays.

Ricke found Fullingim on a screen pass and the senior followed his blockers down the Bulldogs' sideline.

Fullingim was untouched again until near the 10, where he was barely tripped up and down at the Chectoah 5-yard line.

It was another highlight play for the Bulldogs' offensive line, who continues to improve each week and is not only crucial to the success in the run game, but the pass game, as well.

"I'm really proud of the offensive line," said Ricke. "We continue to get better with each week. I thought they played very well last night. We continue to match our physicality with technique and that has shown up each week."

The senior plunged ahead on the following play for his third touchdown of the night, extending the lead to 35-0 with 10:15 remaining in the opening half.

Checotah got on the board on the following kickoff, as Thomas found some room down the Wildcats' sideline and broke free for a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown.

Lincoln would answer, however, as the Dogs were set up in good field position thanks to a 24-yard kickoff return by senior Creed Nail.

Six plays later, Ricke found senior receiver Jack Milligan for a 12-yard score on an over the shoulder pass off a great post-corner route. The response made it 41-6 with still 8:55 left in the 2nd.

The defense continued to play well and suffocate the high-scoring Checotah offense, forcing another 3-and-out.

Ricke and Milligan kept the momentum going on the ensuing drive, as the two connected three times for 42 yards, including another touchdown.

This time, Ricke waited for Milligan to double-move the defender the other directon, as the senior turned inside and hauled in a perfect pass for the 19-yard score.

It was 48-6 Lincoln with 5:42 still to go in the 1st half.

Checotah put together its lone scoring drive on the next possession, as the Wildcats moved down the field on just three plays.

Thomas caught two passes for 42 yards and freshman quarterback Cole Rolland found receiver Kaden Rice for a 27-yard score to trim into the lead, making it 48-12 with 4:39 to go in the quarter.

But Lincoln continued its focused approach, executing at a high-level to close out the half en route to their 41st straight district win. 

"We take pride in getting better with each new day. Each practice, film session, lift, and especially game is an opportunity for us to improve," Ricke said. "I think our coaches do a tremendous job of keeping our kids focused on each opponent and not getting ahead of ourselves. We value each opportunity to step out on the field and I think that shows up in our consistency."

Lincoln answered the lone Checotah scoring drive with a 3-play march of its own, as Baker ran twice for 35 yards and Ricke and Milligan connected again.

Ricke faked to Wright on the handoff and hit the senior on another in-cutting route, as Milligan held on for his third touchdown in under five minutes of game play.

The 17-yard pitch and catch made it 55-12 at halftime.

Lincoln opened the 2nd half in the same way it closed the 1st, with an efficient scoring drive.

Senior Kylan Schultheis returned the opening kick for 21 yards to midfield before Wright carried for 13 to move inside the Checotah 40.

Ricke connected with Milligan for 17 yards on 4th down to keep the drive going and move inside the Wildcats' 20.

Two plays later, Ricke short pitched to Schultheis in motion and the senior raced around the end untouched for a 10-yard score, stretching the lead to 62-12 early in the 3rd.

Lincoln's final scoring drive would come midway through the 4th, as the second team Bulldogs' offense put together an impressive scoring march.

Davi Fernandes scored on a 2-yard touchdown, capping off a 14-play, 72-yard drive that spanned seven minutes.

Baker ran seven times for 106 yards, while Fullingim had six carries for 100 yards. Wright had 54 yards on eight attempts.

Titan Price ran three times for 25 yards and Gave Huntsinger carried five times for 28 yards.

Milligan caught seven passes for 92 yards, while Schultheis had two for 19 receiving.

Checotah had just 184 yards on 41 plays. The Wildcats had just 79 rushing yards on only 3.6 per attempt.

The Lincoln defense held Thomas, widely considered to be the top-player in Oklahoma in the senior class, to just five catches for 49 yards and zero rushing yards on three attempts.

The Bulldogs will look to inch closer to their 7th straight district title next week when the Bulldogs host Eufaula. 

"We need to continue to pay attention to the little things," Ricke said." In football, details matter. We need to keep our focus on getting better with each day of practice, film session, lift, etc."

Photos by Lee Talley