The Lincoln Log

After a memorable season filled with hard work, dedication, and a desire to succeed, the football team fell short of achieving their ultimate goal of a city championship.

In the past years, Lincoln’s team had not had much success, until Phillip Ferrigno’s arrival in 2002 when he took over the role as varsity coach. Ferrigno’s leadership not only won him Coach of the Year last season, but his hard work led the team to become one of the top contenders in the AAA. Last year, the football team proved all disbelievers wrong as they cruised to a 5-2 record. With their confidence up from last season, the varsity football team had high hopes of achieving what some might say was impossible in past seasons.

With their post-season hanging in the balance, the Mustangs pummeled Burton 55-12 in their last season game. Unfortunately, rival school Lowell’s loss to Mission dropped the Mustangs out of the playoffs.

“If we had handled our business during the season (defeats to Balboa, Washington and Lowell), we wouldn’t have had a problem making the playoffs,” Ferrigno said.

Even though they had a disappointing season, the future of the program will continue to strive for excellence. Fortunately for the team, they will only lose 12 seniors and have a large number of returning players.

“We’re going to build on the program,” Ferrigno said. “It’s about competing. It’s good to learn at an early age to compete.”

Although it was disappointing that the team did not make the playoffs, Lincoln did not walk away empty-handed. Seniors Isa Hines, Chris Hannon, Ivan Eric, and Ray Biagini made the all-city football team. Hannon also won the award for co-linemen of the year. Another major accomplishment was that multiple athletes on Lincoln’s team were leaders of the AAA in rushing, passing, receiving, scoring, tackles, and sacks. In each of the six categories, a Mustang was in first place. These athletes included junior Andrew Loo (first in passing), Hines (first in rushing and second in passing ), Biagini (first in receiving), sophomore Philippe Lewis (first in scoring), junior Mel Tiongson (first in tackles and third in sacks), junior Paul Lee (first in sacks and third in tackles), senior Kurt Hillbrand (second in scoring), senior Vlad Shut (second in tackles), senior Brenden Lam (second in sacks) and sophomore Jose Medina (third in receiving).

“They’re going to do great. They have the right coaches. They just have to put in the work,” Hines said.