Lincoln Mustangs go back-to-back as State champions

SF Section Varsity Football and CIF NorCal Division 7-AA champion Lincoln complete their quest for back to back State titles with a 35-26 victory over Gardena December 14 at City College of San Francisco.

After hosting and winning the first CIF State championship football title game in San Francisco last year, the Lincoln Mustangs (12-1) went back-to-back with a repeat CIF Division 7-A State Championship victory on Saturday, December 14, 2019. 

Senior Luis Contreras powered the Mustang offense putting up 349 yards on 56 carries and scoring three touchdowns along the way to Lincoln’s hard-earned 35-26 win over the Gardena Panthers (11-5). According to the Cal-Hi Sports record book, Contreras’s 56 carries are the third highest single-game total in state history. 

“It’s a great day to be a Mustang,” said Lincoln High School Principal Sharimar Manalang. “The team has worked hard all season long, and they’ve made us all very proud.”

The Panthers struck first in the second quarter going up 6-0, but the Mustangs quickly answered back with a 13-play, 76-yard drive that ended with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Senior Tyree Cross, who had two touchdowns on the day.

Though the Mustangs opened their widest lead of the game to 35-14 with 7:37 left in the fourth quarter, the Gardena offense continued to produce. After a 30-yard rushing touchdown followed by an onside kick recovery that led to a fumble recovered by Gardena in the end zone for another score, the Panthers came back to within 10 points. However, the Mustang defense shut down the Panthers for the final 4:13, securing Lincoln’s second state title in as many years.