Top-ranked Lincoln Christian will be back in action tonight, looking to remain perfect on the road at Locust Grove.

The Bulldogs (5-0, 2-0) smoked No. 4 Holland Hall last week 62-0 in a highly-touted district 3A-3 matchup.

It was the 33rd straight win for Lincoln, who is looking to three-peat as state champions in 3A this fall.

The Bulldogs also won its 45th straight district game and 54th consecutive game at home.

Lincoln racked up 690 yards of offense, scoring on every drive besides the final one where the end-of-game clock ran out.

The Bulldogs averaged 12.4 yards per play in the win, as the offense was rolling behind the usual playmakers.

The defense was also extremely dominant, holding the Dutch to just 113 total yards and 1-of-13 on 3rd and 4th down in the shutout.

The Lincoln defense also held Holland Hall to just 58 yards rushing in the game, averaging just 2.4 yards per carry.

Lincoln will be the favorite again tonight on the road at a Locust Grove team that is searching for its first win in 2025.

Under first year head coach Keith Wilson, the Pirates have scored just 65 points through five games and allow 53 points per game defensively.

The Pirates lost 55-6 at home to Checotah to open district play before falling at Eufaula 48-6 last week.

It will be the 11th matchup all-time between Lincoln and Locust Grove, with the Bulldogs leading the series 7-3.

Lincoln has won five straight against Locust Grove and the teams have played in each season from 2020 on.

Lincoln has outscored the Pirates 303-61 across the last five matchups. The Bulldogs have not scored less than 55 points in any of the five wins.

The Bulldogs are 82-4 since the start of the 2019 season and 93-6 since 2018.

Lincoln has also won 31 straight regular season games.

No. 1 Lincoln Christian @ Locust Grove

Friday, Oct. 10 — 7 p.m.

Leonard Yarborough Stadium - Locust Grove, OK

11th meeting in all-time series — Lincoln leads 7-3

WATCH HERE

OFFENSIVE PREVIEW

Lincoln will look to keep the momentum rolling on offense after its best performance of the season in last Friday's win over Holland Hall.

The offense was humming, running for almost 500 yards and gaining nearly 700 while averaging 12.4 yards per play.

Quarterback Carter Ricke continues to be nearly perfect, as the senior delivered another impressive performance last Friday.

Ricke was 10-of-15 for 181 yards and four touchdowns in last week's win.

He's completed 74% of his passes through five games, totaling 880 yards and 12 touchdowns to just three picks.

In last year's 55-20 win at home over Locust Grove, Ricke set the single-game school record for yards, going 18-of-23 for 419 yards and five touchdowns.

His two backfield running mates were equally as impressive in last week's victory, as junior running back Braeden Baker and sophomore running back/wide receiver CJ Wright both had big nights.

Baker ran for 149 yards and a score on just 11 carries, while Wright had seven carries for 120 yards and a score, while also catching four passes for 27 yards and two touchdowns.

On the season, Baker has run for 480 yards and nine touchdowns on 9.6 yards per carry. The junior has added 12 catches for 79 yards and a score as a receiver.

Wright has also been a big-play waiting to happen, as the sophomore has totaled 427 yards and five touchdowns on a ridiculous 13.8 yards per carry. He's also added 13 catches for 111 yards and two scores.

In last year's win over Locust Grove, Baker ran nine times for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Wright had the first huge game of his Lincoln career against Locust Grove last season, as the speedster had 115 rushing yards and a TD on just seven carries, while adding 117 yards and two scores on just three catches.

Ricke's top two weapons at receiver also were featured and performed well last week against Holland Hall, as senior Hudson Farris and junior Brett Kaste both got loose for touchdowns.

Farris had two catches for 59 yards and a score, while Kaste had four grabs for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

On the season, Farris has 14 grabs for 249 yards and a score, while Kaste leads the Bulldogs with 413 yards on 17 catches and five touchdowns.

Lincoln is averaging 311 yards per game on the ground and 10.3 yards per rush behind a dominant offensive line comprised of junior Lincoln Torres, senior TH Harrell, junior Kayden Claybrook, senior Carson Elix and junior Colt Monsey.

Lincoln averages 50 points per game and the offense is averaging 10.5 yards per play through five games.

The first team offense has faced just 20 third downs through five games.

Locust Grove is led defensively by junior safety Logan Smallwood (5-10, 165), senior defensive tackle Shawn Hubbard (6-2, 160) and senior defensive end Zaine Cagle (6-3, 220).

DEFENSIVE PREVIEW

The Bulldogs dominant defense seems to get better every week, and that continued last week in a big-time performance in the win over Holland Hall.

Lincoln allowed just 113 total yards to the Dutch and held Holland Hall to just 2.8 yards per play.

The Bulldogs continue to do an incredible job of getting off the field on 3rd and 4th down, as Lincoln held the Dutch to 1-of-11 on 3rd down and 0-of-2 on 4th down.

Lincoln opponents are averaging less than eight points per game.

Outside of the high-scoring 41-33 win at highly-ranked Shiloh Christian, Lincoln has allowed just 524 yards in the other four games.

The Bulldogs have held opponents to just 16-of-65 on 3rd down through five games, which is just a 24% conversion rate.

Sophomore Isaac Beisel leads the team with 32 total tackles from his outside linebacker spot. He also has two tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.

His running mates, senior Connor Rowlett and junior Parker Rogers, have also been great for Lincoln.

Rowlett has 17 total tackles, including four for loss and a sack. Rogers has 16 stops, including three for loss, and three pass break-ups.

The defensive line has been the standout group of the defense, as Torres and Monsey have dominated games week after week,

Torres has 18 total tackles, including three for loss, and a team-high three sacks, while constantly drawing double teams from the opposing offensive lines.

Monsey has been just as good, totaling 19 tackles, a team-high seven for loss, along with two sacks and a fumble recovery. 

Freshman Colt Conroy has done a nice job of stepping in and contributing up front for the Lincoln defense.

Conroy has 18 tackles, as well, including three for loss, along with a sack and a forced fumble.

Seniors Logan Kelley and Ethan Uyetake have also had some great moments for Lincoln on the defensive line.

Kelley has 11 tackles, two for loss, while Uyetake has 12 tackles, four for loss, and a sack.

Claybrook also has played outstanding for Lincoln on the front line, totaling five tackles, one for loss, and 0.5 sacks.

The secondary has been outstanding for Lincoln, led by sophomore corner Caleb Peterson.

The speedy cover guy has also played the run well, totaling 17 tackles. He also has a team-high five pass break-ups and a team-leading three interceptions, one of which was a pick six.

Farris stands out at the other corner, as the senior has 17 tackles and a sack.

Baker and Kaste have been dominant at safety, as both returned from starting a year ago.

Baker has 17 total tackles and a pass break-up, while Kaste has 12 stops, an interception and four pass break-ups.

The Lincoln defense, outside of the win at Shiloh, has allowed just one touchdown in 16 quarters of play.

Smallwood leads the Locust Grove offense at quarterback, while sophomore running back Isaac Torres (5-9, 150), junior running back/wide receiver Ayden Littledave (6-1, 160) and sophomore receiver Cale Lyons (5-7, 137) are his top weapons.

Photos by Lee Talley