After a slower start on Friday night in the Class 3A quarterfinals, all Lincoln needed was a jolt of energy from one of its most electric players to regain momentum and never look back.

The Bulldogs were forced to punt on the game's opening possession — for just the second time since Sept. 12 — allowing Kingfisher to move the ball inside the Lincoln 40, looking to take an early lead.

But Lincoln held on downs, thanks to a touchdown saving pass break up by sophomore safety CJ Wright.

Wright reversed field and knocked away a perfect pass at just the last minute, preventing a long TD pass and ultimately getting the ball back to the offense.

Head coach Jerry Ricke wasted no time on Lincoln's opening drive, as he immediately went right back to Wright, who responded with another big play.

The speedy sophomore took the handoff, followed great blocking and hit another gear, racing 67 yards untouched for the score.

The score put Lincoln ahead 7-0 — and the Bulldogs put Kingfisher in the rearview — blowing out the Yellowjackets 55-0 to advance to the school's 8th straight state semifinal.

"I thought CJ made one of the bigger plays last night after we stopped them on 4th down, and then he scored from 67 yards out on the next play," said Ricke. 

Wright, along with fellow backfield mate junior Braeden Baker, dominated the game behind the Bulldogs big offensive line.

Wright had three carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns, while Baker also totaled 134 yards and three scores on just 10 touches.

Those two led a rushing attack that ran for 361 yards as a team, averaging 16.4 yards per attempt.

They did so behind the dominant offensive line of Lincoln Torres, TH Harrell, Kaden Claybrook, Colt Monsey and a new face, Landon Campbell, who was filling in for an injured Carson Elix.

"I was really proud of Landon Campbell for stepping on for Carson last night at the last minute," Ricke said. "Carson will be fine, but I just didn't feel he was capable of going last night."

After Wright's opening score, Lincoln forced Kingfisher into a three-and-out to get the ball back, albeit deep in the Bulldogs' own territory - at their own 1-yard line.

But Baker and his O-line immediately dug out of the hole, as the junior took the direct snap and broke loose for 60 yards on the drive's opening play.

"I was really proud of how Landon played and how all of the guys around him picked him up. I can't say enough about how our guys love blocking for Braeden, CJ, and Carter," Ricke said.

"Those guys up front take pride in giving them running lanes because they know how hard they all run. Braeden had that huge run from the 1-yard line that really turned the game in our favor."

Three plays later, senior quarterback Carter Ricke ran for 18 yards, moving it inside the red zone.

Wright finished off the drive with another explosive run, cutting back near the goal line and breaking a tackle to spin into the end zone.

His second TD of the night gave Lincoln a 14-0 lead with four mins left in the opening quarter.

"I'm very proud of the patience CJ has shown this year," Ricke said. "He is a very selfless player and is always about team first. He is a guy who can score on any given play, and our team really uses the momentum he creates for us with those big runs."

The Lincoln defense more than settled in, as the Bulldogs — who have not allowed a touchdown since Sept. 12 — continued to overwhelm opposing offenses.

After Kingfisher's opening drive, Lincoln forced the Yellowjackets into four straight 3-and-outs and just one 1st down for the remainder of the first half. 

Kingfisher was 0-of-7 on 3rd down and had just 37 yards on 29 plays heading into the locker room, en route to Lincoln's 9th shutout in 12 games.

"Our defense has played outstanding all season long," Ricke said. "They are playing well because they hustle, play a relentless style, and care for each other."

"They have a lot of pride in being a very physical team, and you see that each Friday night. The nine shut-outs is a result of a lot of hard work in practice and great preparation by Coach (Jeff) Comfort and his staff."

Lincoln's next score came via the air, after Wright ripped off a highlight-reel 50-yard run, cutting back, breaking tackles and trucking a defender down inside the Kingfisher 25.

Ricke put a beautiful ball on senior receiver Hudson Farris, as the pass floated just over the top of the defender, allowing Farris to hang on and get both feet down in the back of the end zone.

Ricke's 39th passing TD of the year made it 21-0 with 1:33 to go in the first.

Baker got in on the scoring action after another Kingfisher punt, as Lincoln needed just three plays to go 41 yards.

Ricke ran for 26 yards down to the 1-yard line, where Baker walked in on the following play, giving Lincoln a four-TD lead with 11:03 remaining in the half.

Lincoln used another short field to push the lead out to five touchdowns, as Ricke hit Farris twice for 40 yards to set up Baker's second TD of the night.

The junior followed his big offensive line and shook off a would-be tackler at the goal line, walking in for his 22nd rushing TD of the year with 8:46 left in the half.

Baker wasn't done yet, though.

After the Lincoln defense stood up again, forcing a turnover on downs, the junior completed the hat-trick.

Baker found lots of room down the home sideline before stiff arming a defender at the 15-yard line and cruising into the end zone.

The 24-yard run put Lincoln up 41-0 with 4:37 to go in the 2nd quarter.

The smothering Lincoln defense got the ball back to Ricke and Co. for one more scoring drive before the break, as Lincoln needed just two plays to score in the closing minutes of the 2nd quarter.

This time, Ricke found junior Rain Ragland set up for a screen, all alone on the home sideline.

The big fullback hauled it in and was off to the races, breaking a shoestring tackle near the 20 and staying on his feet before trucking a Kingfisher defender at the goal line for the score.

The 44-yard TD catch not only electrified the crowd, but put an exclamation point on what was another ridiculously impressive opening half from Lincoln.

The Bulldogs totaled 441 yards in the first two quarters on just 26 total plays, while only having the ball for just over nine minutes.

Lincoln won its 59th consecutive home game, as the senior class finished off a perfect record at Willie George Field and Dennis Byrd Stadium.

"I know our seniors were very excited and somewhat emotional to play their last game on our field last night," Ricke said. "I was really proud of the effort last night and how they led our team. They have been a fantastic group all season long."

It was also the 40th straight win for Lincoln, as the Bulldogs continued to extend the state's 2nd-longest active streak.

Lincoln has also won 10 straight playoff games, as they continue to push towards hopes in accomplishing a three-peat in the coming weeks.

"I say it a lot, but all of those wins and streaks are a direct result of how they work in the off-season and how they practice," Ricke said. "This group takes great pride in practicing with great purpose, intent, and consistency. You match that with some talented guys, and I think those wins and streaks are possible."

Sophomore Brayden McMullen scored the final touchdown of the night for Lincoln in the 4th, as he capped off an 8-play, 68-yard drive with an impressive 15-yard run.

Lincoln finished the game with 516 total yards, averaging 14.3 per snap.

Ricke was 11-of-14 for 155 yards passing and had 47 yards rushing in his final home game as a Bulldog, while Farris closed out his career on campus with five catches for 80 yards.

Lincoln held Kingfisher to just 91 yards in the game, as the Yellowjackets averaged just 1.9 yards per play.

The Bulldogs also forced Kingfisher into just 2-of-15 combined on 3rd and 4th down, while forcing six punts.

Lincoln has outscored its last nine opponents 508-3 and has a 605-9 margin over Oklahoma and Class 3A opponents in 2025.

The Bulldogs will see a familiar foe next Friday, as Lincoln will take on rival Heritage Hall in another semifinal showdown.

The Chargers (11-1) rolled 49-17 over Inola in the quarterfinals. Heritage Hall's lone loss came at Lincoln in early Sept. in a 35-6 win for the Bulldogs.

"This will be another great match-up in the series," Ricke said. "We have nothing but the utmost respect for Coach (Brett) Bogert and their program."

It'll be the 4th matchup in the last 15 months between the two programs, as well as the 3rd playoff pairing in the last three seasons.

"We have played them so many times in the last eight years that we know each other very well," Ricke said. "I know that it will be a very physical game because they have been every time we play them."

Lincoln has won the last seven matchups in the series, dating back to a win in the 2019 semifinals. Eight of the 10 games since 2008 have been in the semifinals or state championship.

"I know both teams will be excited for the challenge, and I think it will be another great high school football game."



Photos by Lee Talley