CHULA VISTA – Minutes after Lincoln High School’s improbable, hard-to-believe, you-had-to-be-there-to-believe it 34-27 Division 1-AA Southern California Regional playoff win over Newbury Park on Friday night at Southwestern College, the Hornets gathered at midfield and began dancing and singing.

“Hey, hey, we’re the Hive boys. Hey, hey, we’re the Hive boys.”

It’s lyrics they’ll be singing for days. Here’s some, but not all, of what Lincoln overcame. Try 16 penalties for 186 yards. Try a 4-yard punt. Try a 1-yard punt. Try a blocked extra point.

Try being down 27-14 early in the fourth quarter, the offense sputtering, the Hornets lining up to punt. But here’s where luck, divine intervention or the football gods began smiling upon Lincoln.

Felix Radilla Benavidez’s punt tumbled down from the sky and smacked right on top of a Newbury Park player’s helmet. There to pounce on the ball for Lincoln was Cammeron Purnell.

“I was running, I looked back and saw the ball hit the guy in the helmet,” said Purnell. “I made the play. That was very lucky. We keep God first, and God blessed us with another chance to keep playing.”

Six plays later, sophomore Cam Joy, who’s listed on the roster as a linebacker, not a running back, scooted into the end for a 3-yard TD, cutting Newbury Park’s lead to 27-21. It was Joy’s only carry of the game.

There would be another improbable hero.

Newbury Park rattled off five first downs on its next drive and appeared to be melting the clock away, until Rashad Scott recovered a fumble, the Hornets taking over on their 44.

Ten plays later, with less than 2½ minutes to play, Lincoln faced a fourth-and-goal from the 15. Things looked bleak.

In apparent desperation, Oregon-bound quarterback Akili Smith Jr. fired a dart into end zone traffic. The ball caromed off a Newbury Park defender and there in the back of the end zone to snag the deflection for a touchdown with 2:21 to play was 5-foot-9, 150-pound Joshua Newbern.

Newbern sprinted in celebration across the back of the end zone, down the Lincoln sideline all the way to midfield before ripping off his helmet and slamming it to the turf.

Easy to understand his excitement. His season stats before the catch, his only catch of the game: four receptions, 61 yards.

“It hit the player’s hand, I got hit, fought through the contact, concentrated on the tipped ball and, there you go,” said Newbern.

“I’m very blessed,” he added. “I’m on a very talented team. When the opportunity comes, make it shine.”

Celebrating amidst the onfield bedlam after the game was Lincoln Principal Melissa Ogudelo, who said to Newbern, “I don’t know how you did that, but that was amazing.”

Nothing, though, would come easy for the Hornets. Radilla Benavidez’s extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the game tied, 27-27

Newbury Park is led by junior quarterback Brady Smigiel, a Florida State commit who came into the game having thrown for 3,314 yards and 46 TDs against just three interceptions. But the Hornets harassed him, sacking him seven times.

After the tying TD, Smigiel (11 of 25, 210 yards and three TDs, plus one rushing) threw three straight incompletions.

Newbury Park punted, and Lincoln took over on its 38 with 1:55 to play. Eight plays later, Lincoln was perched on the Panthers’ 14, facing third-and-10. Smith arched a perfect pass to the back corner of the end zone. Courtney Miller-Thompson pulled it in, tap-dancing along the sideline.

The only question was if he was in bounds. Officials conferred, lifting their arms in the touchdown signal.

Lincoln 34, Newbury Park 27.

Recalled Miller-Thompson: “I had to be me. I’ve to go do it. I was confident I got my feet in.”

Smith was resilient on the evening, completing 18 of 29 passes for 272 yards and three TDs and rushing for 63 yards, including a 29-yard score.

Fittingly, the 3-hour, 26-minute game ended with Dameian Watkins Jr. sacking Smigiel. Lincoln’s defense more than did its part, forcing three turnovers.

The Hornets advance to the Division I-AA state championship game next Friday at Saddleback College, where they’ll face Pittsburg, which beat Folsom 28-27.

The Hornets couldn’t resist taking a jab at the visiting Panthers after the game. Said wide receiver Isaiah Grant (5 catches 121 yards, 1 TD), “Tell ’em to get ready for basketball.”

Meanwhile, Lincoln offensive coordinator Jason Carter was in tears after addressing the team.

“I love these kids,” said Carter. “This is who they are. They’re champions.”

Originally Published: December 7, 2024 at 1:15 AM PST