Lincoln wears down when Kennedy runs

Lincoln wears down when Kennedy runs

ERIC D. WILLIAMS; The News Tribune
Last updated: September 1st, 2006 01:00 AM (PDT)

BURIEN – The Lincoln High School football players learned something about themselves Friday night at Highline Stadium.

And they learned something about Kennedy’s Nate Williams.

He’s pretty good.

“They’re a tough team,” Lincoln’s Roman Pula said. “Nate Williams is a tough player. They’re going to go far by the way they looked today.”

A Division I recruit, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound running back for Kennedy rolled up 191 yards on 29 carries, scoring four touchdowns as the Lancers defeated Lincoln, 34-24, in the season opener for both schools.

Lincoln led 6-0 at halftime, but had no answer defensively for Kennedy’s vaunted Wing-T attack in the second half, as the Abes looked tired defensively on a warm evening.

“We just didn’t capitalize on our opportunities,” Lincoln coach DJ Dobbins said. “That was the key to the game. We made a few bad plays, and good teams will make you pay for it.”

The anticipated matchup between two of the top backs in the state never materialized, as Lincoln’s Pula was slowed by cramps in the second half and finished with 60 yards on 15 carries.

Pula left the game with 4:04 left in the third quarter, but later returned midway through the fourth quarter.