WHO: Lincoln County (3-6) at Greenbrier East (1-8)
WHEN: Friday, November 3 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Spartan Stadium in Fairlea
LAST WEEK: LC (defeated Riverside 13-3) GE (lost to Princeton 55-0)
ABOUT THE OPPONENT:
The Lincoln County Panthers hail from the town of Hamlin, WV and bring a 3-6 record into Fairlea this Friday night. The Panthers are coached by Bradley Likens and they are on a short two-game winning streak with victories over Braxton County (38-0) and Riverside (13-3). However, last season, Lincoln County hosted Greenbrier East in their season finale and the Spartans were victorious, 39-0.
The Spartans will find a team on the opposing sideline in the season finale that is more than capable of providing them with a win when the Lincoln County Panthers come to town for senior night. The Panthers do not have an explosive offense like Princeton, Oak Hill, Parkersburg South, or Bluefield. Lincoln Co. averages just 17.7 points per game and allows more than 32 to their opponents. For comparison, the Spartans are scoring 14.8 points per game and giving up 44.1. So, Lincoln County’s numbers are better, but for the most part it’s a push.
With the Spartans at home and with this being the final chance for the seniors to salvage some type of positive publicity, the Spartans’ motivation should not be very hard to dig down and find and pull deep down from their hearts and souls.
It has not been the best season for East after a stretch just a couple years ago where they were consistently qualifying for state playoff berths and hosting playoff games. But this has been a typical rebuilding year for East with youth and inexperience across the board in key positions, and when the Panthers show up, the Spartans will have a chance at season redemption and a ton to build on for 2024.
KEY PLAYERS FOR LINCOLN COUNTY:
Lucas Johaim
Logan Sponaugle
Drew Banks
Austin Adkins
Lucas Johaim makes the Panthers go forward, backwards and all points in between, meaning he is the catalyst for the entire football team from Hamlin. He has had several good games this season and has played a huge part in all three of the Panthers wins. Speaking of those wins, Lincoln County has played four common opponents with East. They defeated Ripley 26-7, Woodrow Wilson 49-21, and lost to Princeton 49-0, and lost to Oak Hill 42-12. So, in summary, they have beaten the same team as the Spartans and lost to the same ones as well.
Logan Sponaugle is a strong running back that can get up field quickly whereas Banks and Adkins can help stretch the field for Johaim and the offense. But, like mentioned above, the Panthers do not have the big-play offense that will jump out and scare opposing defenses.
KEY PLAYERS FOR THE SPARTANS:
Aiden Cole
Sam Wright
Carter Hamilton
Weston Pence
Brayden Brown
Kaden Stone
The Whole Defense, basically
KEY TO THE GAME FOR THE SPARTANS:
See all those key players? What do they have in common? They all play on the defensive side of the football. Defense will have to win this game for the Spartans. The offense with Brody Hamric, Grant Burdette, Hamilton, Stone, Wickline, and the big boys up front, will get their chances to shine. However, the defense must step up and stop people, limit yardage on first downs and force a few turnovers. Turnovers will play a huge role in this game, mark my words. The Panthers have multiple turnovers in a handful of games this season and so do the Spartans. Whichever team forces the most in this battle will end 2023 with a pat on the back and a final victory lap.
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