The galloping mustangs at Abraham Lincoln High School ran roughshod over the Orange Glen High School Patriots on Dec. 15 to win a state football championship. The victory capped a perfect 13-0 season for Lincoln.

 Damon Keeve, an assistant coach with the Lincoln Mustangs, addresses the troops before the start of the first-ever state championship game played on San Francisco soil. Photos: John Oppenheimer

The Mustangs’ 24-13 win was powered by a determined defense, which continually thwarted Orange Glen’s offense, limiting it to a total of 112 yards. Interceptions by Lincoln defenders DeSean Crawford and Jalen Williams thwarted two of the Patriots’ drives.

Lincoln held a 10-0 lead at halftime, but Patriot kick returner Moray Stewart took the second half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, narrowing the game to a field goal.

Then the Mustangs went to work.

Led by quarterback Jovon Baker, who scored three touchdowns, including a 42-yard scamper in the fourth quarter, Lincoln regained control of the game. Lincoln gained more than 300 yards in the showdown with Orange Glen, which is located in San Diego County.

 The defense of the Abraham Lincoln Mustangs
stops Orange Glen in the first quarter of their
championship match-up at City College.

The head coach for the Lincoln mustangs is Phil Ferrigno, who earned his seventh city championship in the past 17 years at the helm. The Mustangs won four titles in a row from 2005-2008.

The CIF 6-A championship game was played at City College of San Francisco, the first time in history that a high school championship football game was played on city soil.

2018 California state champions.