Scene Setter – Lincoln Christian AT Jones

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Thursday night, the 2026 football season kicks off with several games across the state but none bigger than this clash between two top-ranked teams and defending state champions. 3A's top-ranked Jones will host 2A-1's top-ranked Lincoln Christian. We've been talking about the unique nature of this season opener for a while now. Jones went 14-0 and won the 2A-1 title last year while Lincoln Christian captured the 3A title. They've both changed classes this offseason and will now open the season against one another. Lincoln Christian comes into this season after going 42-0 in the last three years with three consecutive state titles. Jones comes into this season with a new head coach in Jeremy Reed, who took over in early spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams have played quite a bit over the last decade, although they haven't played in the last two years. 2015 was the first meeting between these two teams and Lincoln Christian has a 7-2 record against the Longhorns in this series. The last meeting was in 2023 at Jones and coincidentally, there are some Bulldogs that got their first career start in that match-up and now will be four-year starters. And it goes without saying but those Lincoln Christian seniors have never lost a game since entering high school. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game was originally scheduled for a Friday night kickoff but with both teams scrimmaging last week on Thursday, and with the opportunity to be hands down the biggest game in the state, this match-up was moved to Thursday night. Because of that, Prep Redzone Oklahoma will be in the house and we'll have all the highlights and postgame reaction of Thursday night's game on our <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@PrepRedzoneOklahoma" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.youtube.com/@PrepRedzoneOklahoma">YouTube Channel</a></strong>! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When we look at these two going head to head, there's definitely some intriguing match-ups. Jones' offense could be one of the better units in Class 3A this season, led by a phenomenal sophomore quarterback and plenty of playmakers around him. But he'll face arguably the best defense he'll see all year with Lincoln Christian and a front seven that is one of the best and most experienced units in the state. The Bulldogs can get pressure with three or four and that is a nightmare for a quarterback trying to find an opening. On the flip side, the Longhorns will look to attack a very young and inexperienced Lincoln Christian offense. The Longhorns are definitely strong in the secondary and that will make things very difficult for Lincoln Christian's sophomore quarterback, who will be making his first career start on Thursday night. This game feels incredibly even going in and that's another thing that makes it a highly anticipated match-up. Whichever team can limit the early season mistakes is going to be in a position to get the edge Thursday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, we put the spotlight on three different players for each team to keep an eye on. It was difficult to limit it to three as we anticipate plenty of players making big time plays throughout the night on Thursday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>JONES PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1703876' first='Derek' last='Templeton'] - Junior Defensive Back</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When we look at the Jones defense, the strength, in our opinion, comes in the secondary. The Longhorns bring everyone back and have the potential to be even better this season. They have two cornerbacks with D1 offers and experienced safeties behind them. One of those cornerbacks is junior [player_tooltip player_id='1703876' first='Derek' last='Templeton'] and the last time we watched him in person, he was coming down with the game-clinching interception in the end zone in last year's state championship game. We mentioned earlier how the Longhorns will try to make things very difficult for Lincoln Christian's first-year starter at the quarterback position. Templeton and the rest of this Longhorn secondary is going to be a big part of that. We're also expecting him to have a big junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1667339' first='Jeymon' last='Reed'] - Sophomore Quarterback</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1667339' first='Jeymon' last='Reed'] comes into this match-up with his stock pointing straight up. Reed is coming off a fantastic freshman season, where he was our PRZ-Oklahoma Freshman Of The Year and he was recently rated as one of the top ten 2029 quarterback prospects in the nation. This will be our first chance to see Reed in this new Jones offense. There is no doubt that Reed is going to have some playmakers around him so he won't be lacking talent in the skill department. But he will also have to have his head on a swivel because Lincoln Christian will send waves of defenders at him. Whatever happens Thursday, Reed is primed for a big sophomore season but if he dominates against this Bulldog defense, it will be quite the statement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1837262' first='Ty' last='Duren'] - Junior Offensive Lineman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1837262' first='Ty' last='Duren'] and the rest of this Jones offensive line will face the toughest front seven they'll see all year when they face Lincoln Christian. Duren has been looking really good in fall camp and has the chance to have a really strong junior season. But Duren and the Longhorns are going to be thrown into the fire against this Lincoln Christian defense. They shut out nine opponents last season, giving up only three combined points in all seven of their district games. There's no doubt that the Longhorns have some weapons on offense but they'll need Duren and the offensive line to give them time and room to make plays throughout the night on Thursday night. How Jones plays on the line of scrimmage will be a huge key their success. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LINCOLN CHRISTIAN PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1642495' first='Caleb' last='Peterson'] - Junior Wide Receiver/Defensive Back</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs are going to have several new playmakers step into larger roles this season. Junior wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1642495' first='Caleb' last='Peterson'] is one that we think will have a breakout season. We've watched Peterson quite a bit in the last several offseasons at various camps and 7v7 tournaments. We also got to see him in the spring with the Bulldogs and he has the potential to be their leading receiver this season. Peterson is a speed demon and can use that to get separation. Jones has a very talented secondary so Peterson is going to have to work for every inch and take advantage of his opportunities with the ball in his hands. Don't be surprised if the Bulldogs get creative with how they use Peterson and find new ways to put the ball in his hands in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1101282' first='Lincoln' last='Torres'] - Senior Offensive/Defensive Lineman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We mentioned earlier in this scene setter how some of these Lincoln Christian seniors played their first ever game against Jones in the last meeting in 2023. Senior offensive and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1101282' first='Lincoln' last='Torres'] is one of the most experienced players on this Bulldog roster and he comes into this season looking to dominate on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Committed to D2 powerhouse Harding, Torres has the ability to be a force as an offensive and defensive lineman. Offensively, Torres will have a very important job, protecting a young sophomore quarterback. Defensively, it's very simple, make Jones' sophomore quarterback very uncomfortable. Torres is part of that Lincoln Christian defensive front that is just a nightmare to deal on every play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2239956' first='Major' last='Brooks'] - Sophomore Quarterback</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln Christian sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2239956' first='Major' last='Brooks'] will make his first career start on a very big stage Thursday night. Brooks is the next Lincoln Christian signal caller and let's face it, he's probably going to have a fantastic career because that's what Lincoln Christian quarterbacks have done for the last 15 years. Brooks is a lefty and will be challenged against a very impressive Jones secondary. But Brooks should have time to make the right throws with an experienced offensive line in front of him. We got a chance to watch Brooks back in the spring and he passed the eye test. But that was at a team camp in late May. Going on the road and facing a defending champion and top-ranked team is certainly a different kind of test for the young quarterback. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->