LINCOLN — Lincoln tied a school record Friday with its seventh victory of the season.
That’s particularly impressive for the Wolves, who still have two conference games remaining after a 41-7 victory over Gravette at Wolfpack Stadium. Lincoln (7-1, 4-1) scored 34 consecutive points against Gravette (2-6, 2-3) to break a 7-7 tie.
Lincoln will return to the playoffs again after losing a first-round game two years to finish 7-4.
Tyler Cummings scored touchdowns three different ways for Lincoln, which lost 6-0 last season to Gravette. Cummings scored Lincoln’s first touchdown when he caught a middle screen and ran 11 yards for the score. He added two more touchdowns in the second half on a 2-yard run and a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown.
Quarterback Drew Harris added three touchdown passes, including a 15-yard strike to Danny Calvillo with four seconds left before halftime. The touchdown was set up by an interception by Dalton Simmons with 41 seconds left in the second quarter.
“That gave us a lot of momentum going into halftime,” Lincoln coach Brad Harris said. “We came out the very first series and played real well. We then got a little lazy and before we know it it’s 7-7.”
Lincoln picked it up again and rolled past the Lions after Cedric Duarte took a screen pass from Jackson Soule and ran 44 yards for the touchdown. The Wolves dominated the second half with three touchdowns and a pair of 28-yard field goals by Emil Marrufo-Gonzales.
UP NEXT: Gravette will play at Berryville on Friday and Lincoln will stay at home to face Ozark.
EXTRA POINTS
• Former Lincoln standout Nikki Thordsen was honored at halftime for winning consecutive state championships in the triple jump in Class 3A and Class 4A. Thordsen, who also played basketball at Lincoln, is currently attending Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville.
• The crisp mountain air at Lincoln Friday was pierced by sounds of vuvuzelas, a noisemaker that became popular in world cup soccer.
Lincoln fans, mostly children, kept the noise at high levels accept for moments like a pre-game performance when the public address announcer politely asked for quiet.
• The purpose of lining up on fourth down is often to entice the opposing team to jump offsides. Gravette attempted the move on its first possession of the second half, but the Lions moved and were forced to punt. Lincoln then took over and scored on a 28-yard field goal by Emil Marrufo-Gonzales to increase its lead to 17-7.
HOW THEY SCORED
Lincoln 41, Gravette 7
Gravette^0^7^0^0^—^7
Lincoln^7^7^10^17^—^41
FIRST QUARTER
LINC — Cummings 11 pass from Harris (Marrufo-Gonzales kick), 8:08
SECOND QUARTER
GRAV — Duarte 44 pass from Soule (Duarte kick), 3:08
LINCO — Cavillo 15 pass from Harris (Marrufo-Gonzales kick), 0:04
THIRD QUARTER
LINC — 28 FG Marrufo-Gonzales (6:30)
LINC — Pitts 73 pass from Harris (Marrufo-Gonzales), 4:04
FOURTH QUARTER
LINC — Cummings 2 run (Marrufo-Gonzales kick), 11:29
LINC — Cummings fumble recovery in end zone (Marrufo-Gonzales), 10:06
LINC — 28 FG Marrufo-Gonzales (7:46)