By Bill Nestor
The Lincoln football team is ready to get the 2025 season started. Veteran mentor Rob Hawkins has a strong group of juniors. Out of 33 players, 16 of them are returning after a strong showing a year ago and another offseason of hard work has them prepared to lead the team on a potential playoff journey. There are some exceptional seniors on this year’s edition as well, led by the quarterback A.J. Bart. The signal caller is coming off a 2,027 yard and 16 touchdown effort a year ago and is closing in on 5,000 career yards heading into his final season in a Cougar uniform.
There are plenty of other returners at the skill positions poised to help Bart in the playoff push. In the backfield are senior fullbacks Trenton Hardesty and junior tailback Connor Rice. Rice is the top returning ground gainer with 513 yards on 109 carries in 2024.
According to Hawkins, he saved his best for last, “In his last three or four games, Connor played really well,” the coach explained.
Sophomore Cade Mooney and returning junior Colton Edwards will also get carries in the backfield this season.
Edwards also joins a talented group of receivers that helped the air attack become one of the best in the area last year. Juniors Jacob Bart and Brody Barnes were in double-digits in receptions and made more than their share of big plays. Bart hauled in 18 passes for 220 yards and Barnes brought in 12 balls for 96 yards. Senior tight end Cade Riley had 17 receptions for 259 yards. Riley also handles the kicking and punting duties for Hawkins. Junior Hunter Burdette is also a receiver who will see action this season.
The line is anchored by returning juniors Levi Greaver and Brycen Moore. Greaver is a tackle and Moore a guard. Junior Joe Spadafore is the center. Junior Jayden Thompson is the other starting guard and sophomore Gavin Jenkins gets the nod at the other tackle. Junior Max Fratto is also in the mix for playing time up front.
Defensively, Fratto and Greaver are the tackles and Thompson and Moore the defensive ends. Rice, Hardesty, and Riley are the linebackers. The cornerbacks are Jacob Bart and Barnes with Burdette and Christian Davison in the mix for time. Edwards is the free safety and Mooney the strong safety.
The schedule is challenging with six Class AAA opponents, one AAAA, and three AAs. All three AAs (Philip Barbour, South Harrison, and Doddridge County) made the playoffs last season.
When asked about the keys this season, Hawkins answered “we need to stay healthy and we have to be able to stop the run. We are a junior dominated team and I’m hoping experience plays a bigger role.”
That experience and talent could be the recipe for another playoff appearance for the Cougars!
