LINCOLN -- Tristan Young doesn't want to be reminded he's playing for his third head coach in three years at Lincoln, or that his team finished 2-8 last season.
"There's been a lot of change, but you just have to go with the flow" said Young, a senior linebacker and receiver. "Last year was last year. I want to leave it behind."
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LINCOLN WOLVES
COACH: Don Harrison
LAST SEASON: 2-8
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-2
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense 4, Defense 4
POINTS SCORED PER GAME: 17.0
POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 31.9
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: Harrison Swayne (Jr., QB, 6-0, 185), Garrett Blankenship (Sr., WR, 6-1, 190), Jason Swain (Sr., WR, 5-7, 150), David Adams (Sr., OL, 5-8, 270).
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: Pace Maddox (Jr., LB, 5-7, 200), Tristan Young (Sr., LB, 5-10, 150), Dalton Barnum (Sr., CB, 6-1, 180), Lane Phelan (Sr., LB, 5-11, 170).
KEEP AN EYE ON: David Adams, LG/DT. Adams is a three-year starter and projected leader on both sides of the ball. He played as a sophomore on the Lincoln team that won 11 games, so he knows what it takes to win.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK: Lincoln was mostly anemic and without structure on offense last season, so anything the Wolves do this season should be an improvement. Plus, quarterback Harrison Swayne is back at the game’s most important position.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK: Lincoln is always small. Harrison hopes his new team can overcome its lack of height and bulk by being good tacklers who are quick to the ball.
SEASON OUTLOOK: Lincoln regressed after having its best season in school history two years ago under former coach Brad Harris. The Wolves are confident Harrison can reverse the slide and put Lincoln back on the winning track.
KEY GAME: Oct. 2, Pea Ridge. Opening conference play with a win at Gravette may be too much to ask, but beating Pea Ridge at home the following week in doable. The Blackhawks are rebuilding after winning the conference championship last season.
QUOTING COACH HARRISON: “The kids have got a lot to learn, but they’re doing really well. We’re throwing a lot at them, but they’re holding on as hard as they can. The attitude is great and the effort has been awesome.”
Lincoln Wolves
Date^Opponent^Time
Sept. 4^at Westville, Okla.^7 p.m.
Sept. 11^Keys, Okla.^7 p.m.
Sept. 18^Cedarville^7 p.m.
Sept. 25^at Gravette*^7 p.m.
Oct. 2^Pea Ridge*^7 p.m.
Oct. 9^at Berryville*^7 p.m.
Oct. 16^Huntsville*^7 p.m.
Oct. 23^at Shiloh Christian*^7 p.m.
Oct. 30^Gentry*^7 p.m.
Nov. 6^at Prairie Grove*^7 p.m.
- — 4A-1 Conference game
— Rick Fires • @NWARick
At A Glance
Tristan Young
SCHOOL: Lincoln
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Linebacker, receiver
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 150
NOTABLE: Returns at outside linebacker for the Wolves, who finished 2-8 last season. … Will also play receiver and on special teams. … Plays baseball and golf in addition to football for the Wolves.
And with good reason.
Just when the Lincoln program had appeared to gain traction, the Wolves tumbled back to their usual spot near the bottom of the conference standings. Lincoln gave up over 40 points in half its games and finished the season with a 42-16 loss to Prairie Grove.
That was quite a departure from 2013 when former coach Brad Harris led the Wolves to an 11-2 record before leaving for Benton. Scott Davenport lasted one year at Lincoln before being replaced by Don Harrison, who had plenty of success at Newport.
Harrison and his staff have worked patiently with their new team while preparing for the season-opener Sept. 4 at Westville, Okla.
"Under coach Harrison there is some screaming, but he's just screaming over the music," Young said of a typical practice session by the Wolves. "The new coaches he brought in with him, they're all great guys. I couldn't ask for better coaches, really."
His new coaches are expecting plenty from Young (5-foot-10, 205 pounds), who started at linebacker as a junior. He's a baseball, football, and golf athlete who usually leads the pack with maximum effort and attitude.
"Since the day I showed up, Tristan has done everything I've asked him to do," said Harrison, who led Newport to a conference championship last season. "He's a good kid with high character and he does well in school. We're going to use him a lot, including on special teams."
Lincoln will open the season at Westville, Okla., after losing 36-0 to Class 5A Hot Springs Lakeside last year at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Westside is a traditional first-game opponent that's been outscored a combined 85-13 by the Wolves in their last two meetings.
"I hope we can come out with a win and set a high standard for the rest of the year," Young said. "I think we can have a good year if we give great effort and have the right attitude."
Sports on 08/25/2015