City Game of the Week: Lincoln 20, Mira Mesa 7
Most teenage boys aren’t willing to credit hitting the books for their success. But there is a squad in green and black that did their business off and on the field.
“We’ve just been working hard at practice everyday,” Lincoln running back Donell Pleasant said. “Getting to work at 4:00 through 7:00, not leaving. Doing that home work.”
Work certainly was done as the surging Hornets claimed a 20-7 victory over Mira Mesa in the first week of Eastern league play. After a subpar 1-2 start that had the experts believing a fall swoon was in order for the 2012 CIF champions, the Hornets have now claimed their third straight win.
“After the losses against Point Loma and Carlsbad, we just wanted to get back on our feet,” Pleasant said. “We’ve been working hard every week and we’re just trying to get better.”
That hard work began in the running game, where the Hornets had 380 rushing yards, 220 of them coming from Pleasant. While his touchdown late in the second quarter had the most impact on the scoreboard, the two most impressive moments in his night don’t show as brightly. Earlier in the second quarter, a 75 yard romp by the senior into the red zone led to a stop on four downs by the Mira Mesa defense. In the third quarter, a punt return for a touchdown was called back for clipping. Lincoln also enjoyed big days from Micah Edwards and Jacquess La’tre.
Meanwhile times have become even tougher for Mira Mesa. The Marauders were without star junior back Chamberlin Liddell-Patacsil, while nationally ranked junior wide receiver Steffon McKnight was kept quiet in the first half and did not re-enter the game in the second half. Losers of their last two games, the 2-4 squad will follow up their homecoming game with another homecoming game, this time for Saint Augustine.
Lincoln’s task will be slightly harder. The number eight ranked team in Division II will face the number one team in Division I.
“We got Cathedral next week,” Pleasant said. “We’re ready to win against this league.”
