Can you be great?

That is the question Lincoln players should be asking themselves when they take on the South Cincinnati High-birds. Could they be only the third team in Lincoln's history to make it to the state championship game? I spoke with several of the players tonight and them seemed more focused than ever. The look in their eyes invigorated me to want to suit up with them and fight to the death side by side. I told them to realize the importance of this game, a game that can change them from local high school football players in to Lincoln legends.
Let's be honest, we have some seniors that won't play college football so this could potentially be their last game of their careers. Do you want to have any doubts that you could have done more? Do you want to have a loss be the last memory? Do you want to be sitting at a barbeque with your buddies 15 years from now saying "if I had only made that one tackle?, if I had only made that one catch?, if only I would have made that key block on third and long?".....but envision this...you at a barbeque 15 years later but this time with a really hot chick and your buddies saying "remember when I caught that touchdown against Highlands, remember when I sacked Highlands quarterback, remember that time (not at band camp) BUT AT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME".
I told the players something tonight that I truly believe, I have seen just about every Lincoln team since the late 80's and this team plays with more heart than any of them. They play so well together and are so balanced, I just hope they see the victory that they really deserve. Good luck Patriots! Not to steal any phrases from UK football but I BELIEVE.
If any of you have the movie Friday Night Lights, play it before the game and listen to the pregame talk when the coach asks his players "can you be great?" that is the challenge I pose to you tomorrow. CAN YOU BE GREAT?

Goliath meet David

Who would believe?

What is everybodys plans on tailgating at Highlands. We need a huge contingency of fans to make the trek to Highlands, their field and fans can be an advantage. We are working on getting a charter bus to go up to the game. Will have more info later, but it looks like it will be $40 per person for the bus with part of the money going to the booster club for the banquet and stuff. You can call us at Patriot Sports for more info. The bus holds 56 people so let us know asap.

Patriots claim the regional championship 43-22 over Johnson Central

Last night in Death Valley, the Lincoln County Patriots showed Johnson Central who the more physical team was by defeating them by 21 points. It was a close first half, but Lincoln dominated the entire second half except for the lone kickoff return by Grimm. Johnson Central came out playing smash mouth football running the same belly play most the the first half. Thanks to having a great coaching staff, adjustments were made enabling the Patriots to stop the ground game. There were several hits in the backfield and tackles for losses. I am very proud of the way the Patriots played with such emotion and intensity. I am going to call out a few names and plays that I believe deserve mentioning....Denson knocking heads in the backfield all night, Young's pick six, Roger's leadership at field general, defensive line domination in second half, Gilbert's aggressiveness at linebacker, Reed for giving us his all this year while playing with his injury. Feel free to add any big plays that stuck in your head, there were so many I can't remember them all. The great thing is that our Lincoln Patriots won the REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!! This will put this team in the elite company of the best teams ever to put on a Patriot uniform, I believe this is only the third or fourth regional championship ever. Patriot players hold your heads high because you will always be remembered as one of the best ever. Years from now, we will be including the '07 team in conversations about great games or players. Congrats to the players and coaching staff on completing a monumental task, we have two more to go! GO PATRIOTS - 2007 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

Lincoln vs. Johnson Central for the regional championship

CALLING ALL PATRIOT FANS, your team is playing for the regional championship at your Death Valley this weekend. Personally I'm more excited than a puppy with two peters. From everything that I have read Johnson Central is a power football team coming in to the matchup with the same 10-2 record as the Patriots. They lost to Belfry and Woodford during the regular season. Lincoln has in my opinion played the more difficult schedule, based on combined win/loss records of teams. Everyone online is calling for this to be a very close game, with Lincoln currently being the favorite. However, I don't think it's going to be close at all. Most Eastern Kentucky teams come in talking smack about how good they are, but usually haven't played very high caliber teams. I don't care if they do have a receiver that has almost 1000 yards, he can't be half of the player we have in Ryan or Noah for that matter. I don't care if they have good running backs, they can't run as hard as Avery, Trey, and Dustin. I read on bluegrasspreps.com that their QB may not play due to an injury he received last week. He was getting an MRI on his knee and it hasn't been confirmed as to whether he'll play or not. Daniel Walls was awarded the area lineman of the year this week, so along with his comrades in the trenches, I think our line has to be better. I know that the offensive and defensive line don't always get the credit they deserve, so le't go out of our way to show how proud we are of the line. They have been dominant and have dictated the way most of our games have gone this year. Congrats to Boone Walls and the rest of the line.
We've talked about offense, but let's get to the real meat and potatoes of our hometown heroes. Our defense will bust anybody up, I don't care who you are or where you're from. We'll send you packing, believe that. These mountain boys haven't seen anything like the black shirt defense we're getting ready to unleash on them. I know it's against school policy, but I'm trying to get the PA to announce "UNLEASH HELL" (like Russell Crowe in Gladiator) when our defense steps on the field for the first time. That would be awesome.
Time to truth up and man up Patriot players, you didn't get here by accident. You are in the regional championship because you have worked hard all year and played very well together as a unit. You are better in the backfield, on the line, defensively, through QB to receiver, we are better. You guys have to believe that, and if you do you can't be beat. Because when you know in your heart and mind that you're better, if you are down and getting beat, your heart and mind will push you to the next level to overcome. Be strong and know that they are on your sacred ground, in your house trying to violate you and your property, and you must defend Lincoln's pride.
Lincoln dominates and shows out against the mountain eagles 33-14
Put any thoughts and predictions to the game on this post.

Patriots claim District Championship with 22-14 beating of Pulaski

It was a cold night in Death Valley, but the Patriot "black shirt" defense brought the heat and won the District Championship. The defense played great all game, and the offense was solid while beating Pulaski for the second time this season. The offense stalled in the red zone and a bad snap over punter Noah Keeton's head allowed Pulaski to tack on a late TD with only a few seconds left in the game.....or the score could have been worse. Levi Rogers combined with Ryan Young on several swing passes that Pulaski just couldn't stop, Trey Edwards ran hard, and Keeton caught a wide open TD while the defense put pressure all night on QB Muse. Conatser, Long, and Walls were in his face, great job defensive line!!! Several BIG hits tonight by Denson, Reed, Brummett, Gilbert, and Edwards. Everyone should be proud of what they have accomplished this year, and I hope they're not even close to being finished. Great job to the coaching staff this week to keep the team focused and prepared.
Great game Pats and good luck next week. Let me know everyone's thoughts on the game and feel free to add anything that I missed. The Patriots will face Johnson Central next week, who defeated Montgomery County 33-12.

Tailgating/Crowd

I must say, the crowd at the game last Friday was pitiful. People, this is the playoffs, and there is an excellent football team in Lincoln County to go watch and support. That was one of the worse crowds I have ever seen at Death Valley, and not just in numbers.

Make a point to get to the game early this week. Get there early enough to tailgate, it is rumored that there is going to be a lot of people tailgating before the game, get there and join in.

Just because we smoked this team once doesn't mean it will happen again, so get there and support the team. This would be the first district championship in years, don't miss it.

Lincoln vs. Pulaski round 2-MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS!!!

Lincoln defeated Mercer 35-14 to move on to the second round of the playoffs. The Patriots will face the Pulaski Maroons for the second time this year as well. Lincoln defeated the Pulaski Co. Maroons 28-0 in the first meeting giving Pulaski it's only loss of the season. I feel like we own Pulaski so I am not worried at all. When Lincoln wins and moves on to the third round they will face the winner of Johnson Central vs. Montgomery County for the regional championship. Let's end Pulaski's season and move on to the regional championship. Good luck Lincoln.

Bring on Mercerburg, we're not afraid to double up on the beat downs!!!

Marty and his Merger team roll in to Death Valley this weekend for the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. Our defense is smashing people this year, combined with the fact of the Death Valley advantage, means our Patriots will roll over the Titans. I feel like we will smother their running game, which is all that I think they have, and move on to whoever is next. Word on the street is that Merger's athletic director called to see if they could publicly fire Marty and burn him at the stake on Death Valley's 50 yard line. I think it is being brought up at a secret meeting of the school board. I personally saw a purchase order from Mercer's board of Education to Fox Funeral Home for a casket that would hold up to 400 pounds.
Seriously, let's get some predictions going. I am going with the Black Shirt defense of the Patriots...Lincoln 26 Merger 7
PUT YOUR PREDICTIONS ON THIS POST!!!!!!

Lincoln thrashes Hopkinsville 29-21

The Lincoln County Patriots sent their seniors out with a huge victory over the Hopkinsville Tigers 29-21 Friday night in Death Valley. Congrats to seniors: Noah Keeton, Levi Rogers, Devon Denson, Boone Walls, Josh Foister, Nathan Bustle, Kris Long, Cody Reed, and Dustin Brummett. This is not only a great group of football players, but a great group of guys. I know most of them personally, and their attitude is what has won football games for them this year. Ryan Young may be one of the best all around athletes that I have ever seen. Nathan Bustle is an inspiration to us all, and we should never forget to remind him of that.
On to the game...
Even if Hopkinsville is down for their standards, this is a big win for Lincoln. Anytime you can beat a school with that much talent, you've done something. Ryan Young caught two TD's from Levi Rogers and also had a pick-six for his third score of the game. Trey Edwards scored the other Lincoln TD on a 3-yard run in the third quarter. Another huge suprise to the Patriot offense was a Micheal Wright field goal, I think the first of the season. We have to have a solid kicking game if we plan to go anywhere in the playoffs. The defense played great once again with some big hits being thrown around all over the field. Young, Rogers, Denson, Brummett, Reed, Conatser, Gilbert, and Walls all had big games. I think that our Black Shirt defense can play with anybody.
Another observation was Coach Jaggers in attendance with his '93 Lincoln County jacket on, scouting to see how bad we're going to wax his Scottie-Hogs next week. Good luck Marty, your season will be over soon enough.
Please feel free to comment and add anything about the game. GO LINCOLN!!!!