No. 1 Lincoln flipped the switch into playoff mode on Friday night, as the Bulldogs had no problem taking care of Jay in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs, rolling 56-0.

Lincoln (11-0) held Jay to just 12 total yards in the game, while the Bulldogs used a ton of big plays to run out to a big lead in the first half.

The Bulldogs had 315 yards on just 20 plays in the first 24 minutes, as Lincoln led 49-0 at halftime.

"We wanted to come out and play a clean, physical game in which we executed at a high level. I was really proud of our kids for doing just that," said Lincoln head coach Jerry Ricke. "We were focused from the first snap on, and we played with a lot of energy and enthusiasm."

Lincoln won its 39th straight game, while also pushing the home win streak to 58 consecutive victories.

"Our guys love playing at home, especially in the playoffs," said Ricke. "I think that the game against Kingfisher will be a great test for us, and so playing at home will definitely help us."

"There is a comfort to how we do our pregame for home games, and I think that our kids understand that schedule and how to have themselves ready to go."

The Bulldogs have won nine straight playoff games, as they hope to push that streak to double digits next week and advance to the school's 8th straight state semifinal.

"I think our guys were excited to get the playoffs started and to get back out on our home field," Ricke said. "I told them before the game that I wanted them to enjoy these times and to have fun in the moment."

"They have a lot of experience getting themselves ready to play in these playoff games, and I think you saw that experience pay off last night."

Lincoln is 23-4 in the playoffs since the start of 2018. 

The Bulldogs finished the game with 456 total yards, led by senior quarterback Carter Ricke, once again.

Ricke, who has been phenomenal during his career and especially as a senior, was brilliant on Friday night.

The senior finished 12-of-13 for 237 yards and five touchdowns — all five to different receivers. 

"I was very pleased with our passing game and the fact that five different guys scored touchdowns," Ricke said. "It speaks to the depth we've been building towards all year long and the kind of playmakers we have at receiver."

The Bulldogs forced a three-and-out to start the game before striking quickly on offense.

Ricke launched a deep ball to leading receiver Hudson Farris on the first play for Lincoln.

The senior leaped over a defender and hauled in the pass, falling just short of the end zone at the one but holding on for an acrobatic catch.

Junior running back Braeden Baker plunged in from 1-yard out on the next play to give Lincoln a 7-0 lead with 9:54 to go in the opening quarter.

The Bulldogs forced another quick punt before the offense added to the lead with more big plays.

Baker rumbled over several Jay defenders for 18 yards to start the drive before Ricke found sophomore wideout Brayden McMullen for a 17-yard gain to move inside the 35-yard line.

The junior running back found the end zone for the second time on the night on the next play, breaking free down the visiting sideline and outrunning the defense for a 31-yard score.

Baker's 20th rushing score of the year gave Lincoln a 14-0 lead with 7:52 left in the 1st.

Lincoln forced Jay to punt again but after a bad snap, the Bulldogs got the ball in even better field position to quickly extend the lead.

Ricke found McMullen on the first play of the ensuing drive, as the sophomore caught the quick pass and raced down the visiting sideline before being pushed out at the 1-yard line.

Ricke found fellow senior tight end Logan Kelley on a play-action pass for the short pitch and catch on the following play, stretching the lead to 21-0 with 2:57 remaining in the opening quarter.

Jay put the ball on the turf three plays later, deep in its own territory, as Lincoln junior defensive lineman Rain Ragland pounced on it at the 10-yard line.

Ricke found Farris for his third passing score of the night on the next play, zipping a pass into the back corner of the end zone.

The senior held on and got his feet in bounds for his 11th receiving TD of the year, making it 28-0 with 1:02 to go in the opening quarter.

Lincoln got it back after another three-and-out, where the offense moved the ball down the field quickly again.

The Bulldogs needed just four plays to score, as Ricke found sophomore Caleb Peterson on an out route down the Jay sideline.

The speedster caught it, turned up field and made a nice cut back near the goal line to score.

Lincoln led 35-0 with 11:14 to go in the first half.

After Jay had to punt again, the Bulldogs added to the lead with its longest drive of the night.

Baker ran for 19 yards, before Ricke found McMullen for 13 and Peterson for 15 to move inside the Jay 35-yard line.

Three plays later, Ricke found speedy sophomore CJ Wright over the middle on a crosser.

Wright made a man miss near the goal line and dove over the plane, which pushed the lead to 42–0 with 6:57 to go in the half.

The sophomore wasn't done yet, however, as Wright stripped the ball loose from a Jay ball carrier on the first play of the following drive, giving Lincoln possession back in plus territory.

Ricke needed just a play to throw his fifth touchdown of the night, as he found McMullen on a deep route.

The sophomore ran right by his defender and caught the perfectly thrown ball in stride, as Lincoln made it 49-0 with 4:10 to go in the half.

Lincoln looked playoff ready in the first two quarters, as the Bulldogs did not face a 3rd down in the opening half, while Lincoln also held Jay to -7 yards of offense.

The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 453-3 across the last eight games.

"We feel like our culture and standard of how we do things, and the way in which we do them, lend themselves to having that consistency year in and year out," said Ricke."

"The biggest thing that helps in this is the way in which we approach our practices, film sessions, and lifts. Our kids and coaches hold each other accountable in all of these areas, and that pushes them to a high level of consistency."

The Bulldogs lone second half score came on a 2-yard TD run by sophomore Jax Crumbliss, which capped off a 9-play, 67 yard drive.

Junior defensive lineman Lincoln Torres continued to dominate the game up front, as he had another impressive night.

Torres led the Bulldogs with seven total tackles. He had five of those for loss, including a sack, as he led a Lincoln defense that completely wrecked the Jay offense.

"Lincoln is a guy who has a motor on him," said Ricke. "It doesn't matter if it is the middle of a Monday practice or at the end of a Friday night game, he is going to be relentless with his effort."

"The consistency he plays with just jumps off the film. I also think he ignites those guys around him to play with the same relentlessness and edge. Lincoln has spent a lot of time developing himself outside of practice, and he continues to reap the benefits of all those extra hours."

McMullen led the Bulldogs with four grabs for 96 yards, while Farris had three catches for 74 yards.

Baker led the Bulldogs in rushing, carrying just five times for 64 yards.

McMullen also had four carries for 40 yards and was 3-of-4 passing for 32 yards.

Lincoln held Jay to just one first down in the game, while holding them to 0-of-10 on 3rd down. The Bulldogs forced Jay into -1 yards rushing on 29 attempts.

Lincoln will host Kingfisher next week in the Class 3A quarterfinals.


Photos by Lee Talley