Tyler England (2) and Trenton Hall (14) line up in a stack formation for Navarre.
Navarre traveled to Tallahassee and lost a Thursday night matchup against Lincoln High School 35-20 in Gene Cox Stadium.
This was the first time Navarre (3-1, 0-1) has played Lincoln (3-1, 2-0) since the Raiders suffered a heartbreaking playoff loss to the Trojans in 2010.
“I thought our kids played hard, we just made mistakes,” head coach Jay Walls said. “I think that was the difference in the ball game, not to take anything away from Lincoln.”
Navarre got on the board quickly after senior quarterback Marlon Courtney found senior receiver Xayvion Thomas for the first score of the night.
Navarre tried to catch Lincoln off guard on the post-touchdown kickoff with an onside kick, but Lincoln recovered it on their side of the field and was able to answer with a touchdown of their own.
Navarre got on the scoreboard again a few possessions later after Courtney found senior receiver Tyler England for a 30-yard gain on third-and-16 that set up a rushing touchdown for Courtney.
That was Navarre’s last lead of the game due to Lincoln, and their Clemson-commit tight end Sage Ennis, having an answer for everything.
Navarre ended the half trailing 21-14, and Lincoln continued to add to their lead in the second half.
Navarre’s defensive line played well, with junior defensive end Grady Kelly sacking Lincoln’s quarterback five times in addition to picking up a tackle for loss.
“He’s one of the best defensive linemen and it’s good to see him making plays,” Walls said.
At one point, Kelly picked up three sacks in three plays, and helped force Lincoln into a fourth-and-61.
Despite having to punt, Lincoln answered again, intercepting Courtney on the Raider’s’ first play of the following possession.
Lincoln’s second touchdown of the second half came on a direct snap and quarterback-keeper to Ennis.
“[Ennis] made some big plays, I don’t think he’s as good as Jordan Leggett but he’s dang good,” Walls joked.
Navarre’s final touchdown came after Courtney found England for 34 yards, setting up a first and goal that allowed senior running back Jaydin Antonio to bounce a run to the outside for a touchdown.
Navarre will play another road game next week, but closer to home, as the Raiders are set to travel to Pine Forest next Friday.
Last year Navarre beat Pine Forest by one point on a last second touchdown in the pouring rain.
“Pine Forest is a really good team,” Walls said. “We have to continue to be road warriors next week.”
Last year’s game winning touchdown was thrown by Courtney and caught by England, two players that Navarre will need big games from to continue their winning streak against Pine Forest.
Navarre and Pine Forest are set to kickoff at 7:00PM next Friday in Pensacola.
