It's all Lincoln in fourth over Oakmont

The Lincoln Zebras kept their perfect league record intact Friday night, pulling away late for a 49–31 win over visiting Oakmont in a Pioneer Valley League shootout. Lincoln started and finished strong, putting up 21 points in both the first and fourth quarters. The Fighting Zebras stormed out to a 21-0 lead in the first nine minutes of the game, but Oakmont struck quick when Malachi Alexander returned a kickoff 90 yards to put the Vikings on the board. After jumping on the ensuing kickoff, the Vikings scored again when Elijah Stevens connected with Gavin Harder for a four-yard touchdown. The Vikings tied the game when Harder barreled in for a short touchdown run midway through the second quarter, but Lincoln's Eli Duff found Mason Volzer for a 13-yard touchdown in the final minute of the first half to put the Zebras back on top at the break. Duff and the Zebras pulled away in the fourth when the senior signal caller scored on a four-yard dash to make it a two-score game. Julian DeFoe nabbed an interception on the ensuing Oakmont drive, allowing Duff to connect with Volzer for a 30-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach. DeFoe reached the end zone on Lincoln's next possession with a one-yard touchdown run. Duff threw for 236 yards, completing 14 of his 18 passes, and was steady on teh ground as well with 70 yards on six rushes. Dylan Knell added 71 yards on eight carries, while Volzer had 34 yards and two scores on five rushes. Brock Galer had a touchdown run as well. In total, the Zebras rolled up 491 total yards of offense on the night. Defensively, Devin Davis and Diego Cuevas anchored the unit with timely plays, combining for 12 tackles, two forced fumbles, and a tackle for loss. Jedd Bakos and Cuevas each recovered fumbles to halt Oakmont drives. Oakmont quarterback Elijah Stevens threw for 186 yards and two scores, but Lincoln's second-half adjustments and balanced offense proved too much. With the win, Lincoln (6–1, 3–0 PVL) remains in control of the league title race heading into the final stretch, while Oakmont (3–4, 1–2) looks to regroup before returning home next week. The Zebras will host Center (3-4, 0-3) Friday night.