No. 1 Lincoln is back at home tonight with another big district contest at hand.

The Bulldogs (6-1, 4-0) hope to win the program's 55th straight district game when Lincoln hosts Checotah (6-1) at Willie George Field and Dennis Byrd Stadium.

Lincoln is 61-1 at home since Sept. 2017 and the Bulldogs have not lost in district play in over eight years.

Lincoln earned a hard fought win to open 2A-1-3 play over Sequoyah Tahlequah in a 35-21 victory, before rolling over Victory Christian and Heavener.

Last week's opponent, Spiro, canceled its season and forfeited, moving Lincoln to 4-0 in district play and giving the Bulldogs an unexpected bye week.

Meanwhile, Checotah opened the seasons with five straight wins before falling two weeks ago to Sequoyah Tahlequah in a 50-34 defeat.

The Wildcats won on the road 48-7 at Victory last week.

It will be the 10th meeting all-time between Lincoln and Checotah, with each matchup coming since 2015.

Lincoln is 9-0 all-time against the Wildcats, with all wins coming by 34 points or more.

The Bulldogs have scored 54 or more points in all nine contest and have outscored Checotah 526-97 all-time.

Checotah is under 7th year head coach Zac Ross, who is 38-36 at the helm of the Wildcats.

The Wildcats are 27-15 since the beginning of 2023 and Checotah has 14 playoff appearances since 2008.

Lincoln has been to eight straight state semifinals and won nine straight district titles.

The Bulldogs are looking for the program's 4th straight state title and 6th championship in program history. 

Lincoln has won 48 of the last 49 games overall and is 42-1 in the last 43 regular season games.

The Bulldogs are 98-5 overall since the start of 2019 and 109-7 since the beginning of 2018.

Checotah @ No. 1 Lincoln Christian

Friday, Oct. 23 — 7 p.m.

Willie George Field at Dennis Byrd Stadium — Tulsa, OK

10th meeting all-time — Lincoln leads series 9-0

WATCH HERE

OFFENSIVE PREVIEW

Lincoln has turned it on in district play, as the Bulldogs have been playing fast, efficient and explosive football offensively.

The Bulldogs have scored 117 points and averaged 13.7 yards per play across the last two victories.

Lincoln has been incredible efficient on the ground and through the air, highlighted by sophomores Major Brooks and Max Madrid.

Brooks, the quarterback, has completed 77% of passes for 646 yards and eight touchdowns through district play.

Through his first six starts as the leader of the Lincoln offense, Brooks has completed 70% of passes for 1,187 yards and 12 touchdowns to just three picks.

Brooks has also ran for 102 yards and a score.

Madrid has broken out with a couple of big-time games recently, as the tough-nosed runner has amassed 349 total yards and eight touchdowns on just 12 touches across the last two games.

On the season, Madrid leads the Bulldogs with 581 rushing yard and 10 touchdowns, averaging 7.2 yards per carry.

He's also caught seven passes for 151 yards and a TD.

Brooks' top target is junior receiver Caleb Peterson, who has been a consistent playmaker for the Bulldogs all season.

Peterson had three grabs for 74 yards and two TDs in the Bulldogs' most recent win over Heavener.

The speedy wideout has 33 catches for 521 yards and eight touchdowns on the season, accounting for 44% of Brooks' passing yards.

Sophomore wideout Kade Wilson had two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown in the win over Heavener, as he's stepped into the No. 2 receiver role for Brooks.

Wilson has 20 catches for 270 yards and two TDs through six games.

Senior tight end Colt Monsey continues to make big plays in the passing game at tight end, as he's caught nine passes in six games for 152 yards.

The Bulldogs are averaging 383 yards per game and 7.8 yards per play on the season.

Lincoln picks up 16 first downs per game and is still explosive on offense, averaging eight explosive plays (20+ yards) per game.

Checotah has allowed just 13 points per game and is led by several key players defensively. 

Junior Cole Rolland is the top linebacker for the Wildcats, as he's totaled 26 total tackles and eight tackles for loss in six games.

Sophomore defensive end Gabe Scarborough has 37 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss as one of the top players up front for the Wildcats.

Senior Landynn Thompson is a leader for Checotah in the back end, as he's got 19 tackles, four interceptions and five pass breakups on the season.

DEFENSIVE PREVIEW

Lincoln has once again been tremendous defensively as the calendar has turned to October, as the Bulldogs continue to shut down opposing offenses.

Lincoln has allowed just 27 points in three district games, including just one touchdown and six points across the last 11 quarters.

The Bulldogs have been very stringy on 3rd down, as Lincoln has allowed just a 29% conversion rate through six games.

The Bulldogs have forced 10 turnovers and are allowing just 3.6 yards per play through three distinct games.

Junior linebacker Isaac Beisel continues to lead the way for Lincoln with a team-high 36 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.

Fellow linebacker and senior Parker Rogers has 29 tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass break ups and a forced fumble.

Junior linebacker Braxton McGinnis has 27 tackles from the other linebacker spot, along with 1.5 sacks.

Monsey has 24 tackles and a team-high 11 tackles for loss and a team-leading four sacks to lead the group up front, which has been dominant.

Senior Rain Ragland continues to be a dominant force in the middle, totaling 17 tackles, three tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, a sack and a forced fumble.

Junior Nate Uyetake has stepped up big for Lincoln up front, amassing 20 tackles, five for loss, along with two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a sack.

In the secondary, the Bulldogs have allowed just 133 passing yards per game on 26 attempts per night.

Peterson leads the way in the back end at free safety, totaling 23 tackles, six pass break ups and two interceptions.

Madrid and junior Maverick Rea continue to play outstanding at safety as well, against the run and the pass.

Madrid has 21 tackles, three tackles for loss and four pass break ups, while Rea has 19 stops, an interception and a team-high seven pass break ups.

The corners have been great for defensive coordinator Jeff Comfort, as senior Eli Summerlin and junior Cayden Mathruin continue to play well in coverage.

Summerlin has 19 tackles and a pick, while Mathurin has a team-high three interceptions.

Checotah is led offensively by Rolland, who is a dual threat at QB for the Wildcats.

He has completed 63% of passes for 1,254 yards and 15 touchdowns through six games, to just one interception.

He's also a more than capable runner, leading Checotah on the ground with 810 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 9.2 yards per rush.

Junior running back Tommy Calico also has 330 yards and five rushing touchdowns on the year, averaging 11.4 yards per attempt.

Fellow junior Kaden Holladay has just 251 rushing yards on the year, but has scored four times and averages 7.8 yards per attempt.

Thomason is the top target for Rolland at receiver, as he's totaled 27 catches for 686 yards and eight touchdowns in just six games.

Junior Kross Stauffer is the other reliable target for Rolland, catching 13 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

The Wildcats average 50 points per game, as well as 410 yards per game offensively.

Checotah averages 10.3 yards per play ahead of tonight's matchup with Lincoln.



Photos by Lee Talley