After back-to-back state championships and 28 straight wins, expectations are historically high at Lincoln Christian in 2025.

And with a host of returning starters, the Bulldogs are again a favorite in Class 3A, as they will attempt to three-peat this fall and bring home the school's 5th state title.

Last December, Lincoln outlasted Sulphur in the Class 3A final, winning 28-27 on a late 2-point conversion stop to cap off a 14-0 season.

Head coach Jerry Ricke and his group are eager to defend the state title once again, but recognize its a new season and different group.

"We are excited about the opportunity to defend our state title. We don't take that lightly. It's exciting that another season is starting because it's a new opportunity," said Ricke.

"I'm excited for our seniors. This is what they will be remembered for. It's their time to leave their mark and I'm excited for them for that opportunity."

Last year's championship came a year after winning the program's 3rd state title and first since 2019.

The Bulldogs lost some key talent and leadership from the graduating senior class, who was the first senior grade ever to win two titles.

But Lincoln has had a great summer and is ready to get to work, focusing on the task at hand while having a big target on its back.

"This time of year it's about building up from spring ball to team camp to 7-on-7 to summer pride," Ricke said. "We have had really good workouts and our guys are locked into what we are doing."

"We had outstanding testing numbers this summer. The kids have really bought in to what we are asking them to do. And they care enough about each other to show up and do it."

As this year's group goes for another title, it must do so by navigating a tough non-district.

"We schedule our non-district and try to make it as difficult as we can. We have another tough three opponents this year," Ricke said.

Lincoln opens the season by hosting Victory Christian on Aug. 29 before a big match the next week.

The Bulldogs will host Heritage Hall at Dennis Byrd Stadium and Willie George Field for the first time ever on Sept. 5. Lincoln is looking for the program's 7th straight win over the Chargers.

Lincoln wraps up the non-district state when it travels east to Rogers, AR to face Shiloh Christian in another installment of a great rivalry.

The Bulldogs will look to make it three straight over the Saints in the 6th matchup between the two powerhouses before starting district play in 3A-3.

""Those teams will show us what we need to get better at and show us what we are good at, much like last year. It really helped us identify strengths and weaknesses going into district play," Ricke said.

Lincoln will look to extend its district win streak that currently sits at 43-in-a-row. The Bulldogs have also won 47 straight at home and 26 consecutive regular season games.

A host of familiar names and faces return for the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball, which will allow the Bulldogs to have competition and build depth throughout the long season.

"We feel we have a lot of guys that can play, which is going to create a lot of competition in practice and competition for reps on Friday nights," Ricke said. "Competition makes everyone focus a little harder in practice and be as detailed as they can."

Along with competition, continuity and culture, Ricke highlighted the coaching staff as another key piece of being able to reload instead of rebuild. 

"I'm really proud of our coaching staff. We have great continuity and that lends itself to a smooth spring , rolled into summer and eventually into the fall. We don't completely change out schemes," Ricke said. "We just add and subtract. We stay true to our identity, which makes it easy for kids to understand the big picture."

In the next couple of weeks leading up to the season, we will look at both sides of the ball ahead of the week zero opener vs. Victory.

This week — the offense.

Lincoln averaged 49.5 points per game in 2024, racking up an impressive 461 yards per game.

The Bulldogs punted just nine times all season and scored 48+ points in 10 of 14 games.

And in 2025, the unit could be even better…

QUARTERBACK

The Bulldogs are fortunate to welcome back one of the top quarterbacks in the state in senior Carter Ricke.

The gunslinger was outstanding in his first year as a starter at quarterback for head coach and father Jerry Ricke.

"He's a returning starter for us and has been a 3-year starter throughout his career. He has big-game experience, playing in two state championship games."

He completed 75.5% of his passes and threw for 2,879 yards and 43 touchdowns, while throwing just nine interceptions in 14 games.

"Our offense begins and ends with Carter and that position. He's gotta be on his game and getting us in and out of calls, checks and reads. He will have a lot on his plate again and it's nice to have his experience there."

Ricke had the 6th most passing yards and 3rd most passing touchdowns in a single season in school history. He also had the 2nd highest completion percentage in a single season all-time at Lincoln, just 0.02% behind his brother and now quarterbacks coach, Chase.

Ricke added 201 rushing yards and two scores on 7.7 yards per carry.

RUNNING BACK

The Bulldogs will be loaded at running back once again, led by two returnees that had big seasons in 2024.

Junior Braeden Baker is back after a big sophomore season and he's joined by the electric CJ Wright, who flashed big-time in his first varsity season.

Those two, plus senior Gabe Huntsigner, will give the Bulldogs another triple threat, just like a year ago, making it tough for defenses to adjust to.

"We feel really good about the running back position. We have three different guys that can play and provide something different in each ball carrier."

Baker was the Bulldogs' leading rusher in 2024, running for 893 yards and 17 touchdowns. The junior averaged 8.4 yards per carry.

"Braeden had a big season for us last year. He's a big back with great vision and is really a huge piece for us in the screen game."

Baker was also a huge weapon in the receiving game, catching 21 passes for 392 yards and four scores.

Wright had a stellar freshman season, finishing with 716 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. He averaged 10.2 yards per carry.

"CJ is obviously super athletic and when we can get him out in space, we feel great about our chances. That's something we are going to try and continue to do. We feel like we can have a lot of success with him in our stretch scheme."

Like Baker, Wright was also a huge weapon in the passing game, as he caught 17 passes for 336 yards and six touchdowns.

Huntsinger had 245 yards and averaged five yards per rush last season.

"Gabe got reps in the spring because Braeden was out with an injury and he had a great team camp and spring session. He is solid and reliable and knows it's his time."

FULLBACK

Lincoln will once again have a big advantage at fullback, as a returning starter and newcomer will both be a big part of the Bulldogs' offense.

Junior Rain Ragland is back after a big junior year on defense, as well as playing a crucial role as the lead blocker for a potent rushing offense at fullback.

"Rain is a huge part of our offense. He is at the point of attack on so many of our plays. He will be a 3-year starter for us."

Ragland had just two catches for 32 yards last season, with one coming at a clutch time early in the season in a come-from-behind-win at Heritage Hall. 

But that role could expand in 2025.

"He is becoming a bigger weapon in the passing game," Ricke said. "We don't typically throw it to him a lot but we will have more opportunities to do that this year."

The newcomer will be sophomore Isaac Beisel, who is expected to make a big leap at linebacker defensively, but will also big used as a big blocker and possible passing game weapon on offense.

"Beisel will play at fullback and tight end for us. He provides us with a lot of versatility. He can put his hand down or play in the backfield. He catches it well and even scored some touchdowns at team camp. He provides us with another tool in the tool belt offensively."

WIDE RECEIVER

Some familiar faces in new spots will emerge quickly at receiver for Lincoln, after the graduation of seniors Kylan Schultheis and Jack Milligan.

But even after the loss of a duo that produced 1,600 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2024, Ricke is excited about this group and the playmakers that will step up for his offense this fall.

"We have some newer guys out there but we feel confident that we have some play makers and guys that will really help us in the passing game."

Junior Brett Kaste, who started at safety a year ago and was a key part of the defense, will take on a much bigger role offensively this year, which is something the coaching staff is excited about.

"Brett will start at X for us. He hardly comes off the field and is familiar out there after playing receiver last year. He has played in two state championship games, so he has experience in big games. He had a great spring."

Kaste had just one catch last season, a 62-yard touchdown.

"He is a big, tall target and Carter likes throwing to him," Ricke said. "When you have his size and wingspan, a quarterback likes that. You can already see the trust those two have and it's only grown after playing together for a while."

Senor Hudson Farris will also be a big contributor at receiver, possessing experience, good hands and speed from his slot position.

"Hudson will play the Z for us, which is somewhat of a position change. He will still be a slot receiver like he was last year. He had a great spring and is very reliable. He runs good routes and catches it well. He will see an increase in his workload this season."

Farris had six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown in 2024. He also added 55 yards and two scores on the ground.

Sophomore Caleb Peterson is back after missing all of his freshman year with an injury.

But the star track sprinter has had a great offseason working back and should breakout in a big way in his first varsity action for Lincoln.

"Caleb will be at our other inside receiver, the H-spot. He also had a great spring and has truly been one of the standouts of the summer. He had a great 7-on-7 season and has been very noticeable in summer pride. He's gotten faster, stronger and bigger. He looks like a kid that missed last year due to injury and has taken immediate advantage of the opportunity to be healthy."

Fellow sophomore Brayden McMullen will also be a key contributor at receiver, along with being the backup quarterback.

McMullen saw varsity time in relief of Ricke a year go, but has speed, athleticism and a familiarity with the offense that will help him fit right in at receiver.

"In addition to being our backup quarterback, Brayden will see some time at receiver for us. He had a really good 7-on-7 season. We feel comfortable putting him out there. He knows the offense well from playing quarterback and is reliable, will line up right and is just one of those kids you want to have on the field somewhere."

McMullen had 101 yards and two scores from his backup quarterback position in 2024.

The Bulldogs will also have the luxury of moving their running backs around to receiver, specifically Wright, who excelled out wide and all around the formation last fall.

"CJ will also play out at receiver for us. He did that last year and was also great all offseason. We have certain packages for him and will try to get him into situations where he can take advantage out there."

Ricke also mentioned two upperclassmen depth pieces that will help bolster the position in 2025.

"Liam Anderson and Lamar Lewis will have an opportunity to give us some depth at some of those positions."

TIGHT END

The Bulldogs will have a new face at tight end in senior Logan Kelley, who will start at tight end.

Kelley has trust from the coaching staff and has displayed via his work ethic that he is ready for a bigger opportunity.

"Logan Kelly will play at tight end for us and it'll be his first opportunity to start. We trust him as a staff and he plays hard. He is an athletic kid that knows what we are trying to do. We feel like he is going to be a good fit at this spot for us."

OFFENSIVE LINE

Arguably the biggest strength of the offensive unit will be up front, where the Bulldogs return all five starters on the offensive line.

The unit that paved the way for 3,511 rushing yards — 251 yards per game — as well as protected Ricke game after game, will be even better in 2025.

"We have five returning starters up front and that's going to be big for what we want to do."

It starts with junior offensive tackles Lincoln Torres and Colt Monsey, who excelled on both sides of the ball a year ago.

The two were invited to multiple division-1 camps this summer, as their size, strength and athleticism — along with their work ethic — is hard to ignore.

"The two tackles, Lincoln Torres and Colt Monsey, those guys are both going to have big years again. They prepare their bodies and take everything seriously. They are detailed guys. They attack the weight room and show up every day for Summer Pride. They play with a relentless style."

Ricke, who coaches the offensive line, will also return both guards in seniors Carson Elix and TH Harrell. The two gained big experience a year ago and should reach an even higher level of play in their final seasons as Bulldogs.

"Carson and TH will start for us at guard. They both have a year of experience and last year, they grew as the season went on. That really showed this spring. You could tell the experience from last year was already paying off. They were able to do a lot of things a little quicker."

Another junior, Kaden Clabyrook, is back at center after a solid sophomore season and an even bigger offseason, providing athleticism, leadership and toughness in the interior of the unit.

"Kaden Claybrook will start for us at center and we are excited about him. He played at guard last year and now slides to center. What's great is he has done that before, in junior high and 9th grade."

"The athleticism is definitely there and he will help us in every aspect of what we are trying to do. He had a a really good spring, as well."