For the second time in the last four years, the Basile Bearcats will face a familiar opponent when they host the Lincoln Prep Panthers in a first round Class 1A playoff game.
Game time is set for 7 p.m.
In 2016, the No. 18 ranked Bearcats traveled to the No. 15 ranked Panthers and came away with a 41-12 loss to the former Grambling Lab school. However, much has changed over the past three seasons.
First and foremost, the Bearcats come in as the No. 10 ranked team in the post-season, while the Panthers reside in the No. 23 team in Class 1A.
Secondly, Basile sports a better overall record than Lincoln Prep. The Bearcats enter the contest with a 6-4 record, whereas the Panthers finished the year at 3-7.
Basile is coming off of a tough 41-13 loss to district rival Oberlin. However, the Bearcats know the loss to the No. 2 team in Class 1A is not an indicator of the fight they have put into each game all year long.
“Honestly, Oberlin was the better team this past Friday night,” stated Basile head coach Kevin Bertrand. “They did everything right. Don’t get me wrong, we are disappointed with the loss, but we know that we have a good, solid football team and I have confidence that they players have let the loss go and are ready for some playoff football.”
After losing the first two games of the season, Lincoln Prep picked up their first victory in a week three win over Madison High School. The Panthers, playing in one of the toughest districts in the state, then lost five straight games.
Lincoln Prep rebounded by winning their last two games of the year, with blowout victories over Magnolia School and Ringgold.
The Panthers come into the game against Basile averaging 18.3 points per game on offense. Nevertheless, Lincoln Prep has scored two touchdowns or less in six of their ten games.
“They are definitely a run-oriented team,” said Bertrand. “They are big up front and they want to pound the ball at you out of the I-formation. Their main back is about 200 pounds and he is trying to run the ball downhill. They throw the ball a little, mostly out of play action. We are going to have to be ready to make them a one-dimensional team and try and take away what they do best.”
Case in point, the Panthers have accumulated 1,299 yards on the ground and only 597 yards through the air. The biggest beneficiary in the run game is senior Chanse Robinson, who has 491 yards on 76 carries; an average of 6.5 yards per carry.
“Our focus has to be on playing mistake free football,” commented Bertrand. “Our success this season has come when we control the ball and the field position and when we do not turn the ball over. It will be a tough test for us, but I know we will be ready to play come game time.”
June 30, 2026
