Delta Charter earns home playoff game, hosts Lincoln Prep in first round

Published 1:05 am Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Lincoln Prep School (4-6) at Delta Charter (5-5)

FERRIDAY — Delta Charter School enters the LHSAA Class 1A playoffs as the No. 15 seed, and it will host a familiar opponent at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Storm will match up with Lincoln Preparatory School, having already defeated the Panthers in Week 2 this season, 34-33.

Email newsletter signup

“We are excited to play at home,” DCS coach Blake Wheeler said. “They are a much improved team since the last time we played them. They are big and strong with good football players.”

Wheeler said although his team has already taken down Lincoln Prep — the No. 18 seed — he does not want to undermine the stakes of the game.

“The first time it was down to the wire, and I have no reason to believe this will one be any different,” he said.

Delta Charter is coming off a loss to end its regular season, falling to Ouachita Christian last week, 47-12. The Panthers ended with a loss to Arcadia last Friday, 36-25.

This postseason, the Storm is also looking to expand on school history.

Last year in its first year of playoff eligibility, the Storm fell in the second round to Kentwood, 49-0.

To get the second round again, Wheeler said his team needs to block out distractions.

“That stuff really means a lot to the people in the community and the school, but I try not to let them get caught up in that,” he said. “They need to just treat is as another game and go out there and give it their all.”

Ultimately, Wheeler thinks the Storm is ready to fight.

“We have improved too,” he said. “I think we match up well with them. Our losses this season usually came from poor blocking and tackling with turnovers. We have tried to clean that up this week, and we will keep it in our minds.”