By Bill Nestor
A look back at the big showdown in Shinnston between Lincoln and Robert C. Byrd provided an epic comeback that could lead to the playoffs for the Cougars.
The Flying Eagles jumped out to a 14 to nothing lead in the first period of play and appeared poised to ruin the homecoming festivities for Lincoln. Behind a 69-yard bomb on the first play from scrimmage and a defensive stop that led to a rushing touchdown, the visitors had nabbed aloof the momentum.
But as the sun went down and the air turned cold, the Cougar offense got hot as veteran mentor Rob Hawkins went trick-or-treat well before Hallowe’en. Robert C. Byrd expected senior standout quarterback A. J. Bart to throw the ball all over the field using the deep ball for big plays. Hawkins went to the ground game, pulling a fast one on the Flying Eagles. Lincoln had a seven play drive that utilized six running plays, the last resulted in a 20-yard scoring run by Conner Rice.
After a defensive stop, the last seven plays of the following Cougar possession were runs, the final one was a one-yard plunge by Bart to even the contest and it stayed that way until midway through the third quarter when Robert C. Byrd went back on top 20 to 14.
Bart would go to the air, but with a more controlled approach and he would lead a 13-play drive that led to a two yard TD run for Rice giving the home team a 28 to 21 advantage. RCB would counter on the first play of the next series with a 70-yard scoring scamper to even it up at 28 apiece.
Lincoln’s defense would force a turnover on downs, putting Bart and company in prime position at the Flying Eagles 40-yard line. A six play drive that took just over two minutes was capped off by a one yard run by Rice. Kicker Cade Riley connected on his fifth extra point of the affair and Lincoln nabbed the 35 to 28 lead.
Robert C. Byrd would have one last opportunity moving to the Cougar 32-yard line with 18 seconds remaining. It was deja-vu all over again as the score and the last play of the game were the exact same as last year’s lock up at Stydahar Field. The difference was that RCB was victorious a year ago.
The win put the Cougars in the Class AA playoff picture (as of last week, they were ranked 16th) and provide a great deal of confidence to this extremely talented team.
The win was significant for several reasons as it also moves Hawkins into a tie for the most wins for a head coach in school history. Knowing Coach Hawkins, he will give his players and his assistants all the credit, but there is no doubt they would not be where they are without him. He is a class act and deserves a ton of credit.
Even though I didn’t get to visit with Coach, I did get to catch up with those around the program, including his wife Holly (one of the best athletic directors in the business) Mike Darway, Mitch Osbourn, Craig Duttin, and Josh Helmick in the press box along with Mike Wolfe in the stands. It’s great coaching coupled with a tremendous support system that makes the difference in Shinnston!
That will do it for now. Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!!!