It’s awfully hard to beat a great team twice in the same season. Even harder when only 28 days have lapsed. And harder still when the then-losing coach is actually present on the sidelines with a full cast of healthy linemen for the rematch.
Lincoln coach David Dunn wasn’t at the Madison loss four weeks ago. He was in Las Vegas attending a memorial fundraiser for the daughter of Hall of Fame Raiders receiver Fred Biletnikoff, who later became Dunn’s receivers coach when he played for the Raiders.
Dunn got updates four weeks ago during the upset by Madison.
On Friday night, he got a bird’s eye view of a terrific turnaround this time as the No. 3-seeded Hornets routed No. 2 Madison, 42-14, in the semifinals of the San Diego Section Division I playoffs.
“A lot of hard work and preparation paid off,” said Roderick Robinson, who led the offense with 135 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on 17 carries. “We had some added incentive, and we were definitely clicking.
“It feels great, but we know it’s not over. We’ve got a lot of work to do to finish this.”
With the win, Lincoln (8-3) advances to the Division I championship against No. 1 Helix (8-3) at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Escondido High.
Lincoln will be going for its 10th section title and third under Dunn (2018, 2012).
Madison (9-3) won section championships in 2016, 2012 and 2010 under coach Rick Jackson, including state titles in 2016 and 2012.
In addition to Robinson, Jalen Daniels completed 9 of 13 es for 114 yards, including a 47-yard scoring strike to Jalil Tucker near the end of the first half to take a 35-14 lead into intermission. Over a 3½-minute stretch in the first half, Lincoln intercepted three straight Madison es and returned two of them for TDs. The Hornets added a fourth interception in the fourth quarter.
“You give them two Pick-6s and three touchdowns off turnovers in the first half, you can’t give them that much cushion,” Jackson said. “They’re too good for that.
“I’m really proud of my guys though. They kept fighting.”
Madison beat Lincoln 14-10 on Oct. 22 when the Hornets started six freshman on the offensive and defensive lines because of injuries and COVID-19 restrictions to the starters. It was Lincoln’s lowest scoring game as the Hornets came in averaging 35.2 points per game and scored 30 or more in all seven wins. Make that all eight wins now.
Lincoln came out fired up and firing on all cylinders in the first 13 minutes to take a 28-0 lead. On the sixth play, Robinson raced around right end for a 54-yard TD.
Minutes later, Josiah Cox stepped in front of a Madison and returned the interception 46 yards untouched for a 14-0 lead.
Another interception by Jahlil Florence on Madison’s next led to a Robinson 22-yard gain and a 1-yard Robinson TD dive to make it 21-0.
On the first play of the second quarter, Florence picked off another at the 42-yard line, and then he danced and duked and raced and finally hopped into the end zone for a 28-0 lead. It was Florence’s fifth interception and second TD return of the season.
Madison finally got untracked and scored on a pair of short TD runs by Tyson Bryant to cut the lead to 28-14. The second one was set up by a fumble recovery by Makhai L’viavia.
But Lincoln wasn’t finished. With 0:11 before halftime, Daniels heaved a long that Tucker pulled in at the goal line for a 47-yard TD and a 35-14 lead.
Both Tucker, who had three catches for 52 yards, and Florence have committed to Oregon.
In the fourth quarter, Khalil Key intercepted a that led to the only score of the second half, an 11-yard run by Robinson.
“Four interceptions, that’s nuts,” Florence said. “It all starts with our defensive line. They put the pressure on the quarterback and forced him to make bad throws. I was just there to pick off a couple and have some fun.”
Robinson had 109 rushing yards in the first half and Lincoln 214 total yards. Madison managed 102 total yards in the first half, but the three straight interceptions were costly.
Last week, Robinson had 200 rushing yards and three TDs as Lincoln defeated Eastlake, 41-31, in the quarterfinals. He now has 1,120 yards and 16 TDs in 10 games. Daniels has now thrown for 2,328 yards and 16 TDs.
Madison junior quarterback Reggie Johnson had thrown for 1,469 yards and 16 TDs with only two interceptions coming into the game. He was limited to 50 ing yards and was picked off four times.
“Four interceptions, that was huge,” Dunn said. “We ran the ball well. We threw the ball well. I was really pleased with our defense. But we still have some work to do. We have to clean up some things to win the championship.”
Division I semifinals
LINCOLN 42, MADISON 14
Lincoln 21 14 0 7 — 42
Madison 0 14 0 0 — 14
L — Robinson 54 run (Davilla kick)
L — Cox 46 interception return (Davilla kick)
L — Robinson 1 run (Davilla kick)
L — Florence 42 interception return (Davilla kick)
M — Bryant 5 run (Escudero kick)
M — Bryant 1 run (Escudero kick)
L – Tucker 47 from Daniels (Davilla kick)
L – Robinson 11 run (Davilla kick)
