There may not be a more exciting game this year, especially the second half, than the Noxon-Lincoln thriller this past Friday night in Lincoln. 

It was yet another early season game decided in the last minute of play, and it was the Red Devils from Noxon who were blessed with a victory, 55-53. 

The game which at one point saw Noxon take a 31-14 lead, came down to a hectic scramble by the Lincoln quarterback, a desperation throw, and a knocked down pass and receiver as time expired. 

The win gave the Red Devils a 2-1 season record, while Lincoln tasted defeat for the first time and stands at 2-1 in Western 6-player football action. 

Lincoln opened the scoring in the first quarter when they ran for a 15-yard touchdown. The point after touchdown (PAT) kick was good for two points, giving the Lynx an 8-0 lead. 

Noxon scored just over a minute later when senior Chancellor McDaid scooted 15 yards into the end zone, that, with a one-point passing PAT left Lincoln with an 8-7 lead at the midway point of the first quarter. 

Noxon’s defense took over the ball on downs on the next Lincoln possession and a short time later senior wide-out Ricky Williams hauled in a nine-yard scoring strike.  The PAT was no good, but Noxon moved into a 13-8 lead that held up through the first quarter. 

The Red Devils took the next kickoff and capped the drive with a 31-yard TD pass from Justice Kayser.  The PAT failed, giving Noxon a 19-8 lead with 8:50 to go in the first half. 

A short time later, Noxon recovered a fumbled snap, setting them up with the ball on the Noxon 30. Lincoln’s defense held and they marched to the Noxon one. The Lynx scored on a one-yard TD plunge, cutting the Noxon led to 19-14 when the PAT attempt was no good. 

Noxon moved the ball to the Lynx one-yard line again thanks to a long pass caught by Williams. Then, with 21 seconds to go in the half, Williams hauled in a TD throw in the far corner of the end zone. The PAT failed, but as time expired in the first half, Noxon was up 25-14. 

The Red Devils came out in the third quarter and scored again, this time as Ian Brown pulled in a touchdown throw. The PAT was no good, but at that point Noxon held a 31-14 lead. 

A short time after that, Lincoln capped a drive with a 31-yard TD pass and a successful PAT kick, cutting the Noxon lead to 31-22. 

On the next Noxon possession, Lincoln sacked the Noxon QB on a fourth and nine situation. The Lynx moved the ball on the ground, reaching the Noxon 6-yard line.  A play later they scored again on a six-yard TD pass.  A succesful PAT kick cut the Red Devils’ lead to 31-28, with 5:44 remaining in the hectic third quarter. 

Noxon came right back and put eight points on the board via a 31-yard TD catch by McDaid. Coupled with a successful two-point PAT kick, the Red Devils upped their lead to 39-30. 

No one scored again in the third, but at the start of the fourth quarter, Noxon moved to the Lincoln six, then scored via another McDaid TD. The kick after was good, boosting the score to 47-30. 

Lincoln scored a short time later via a 20-yard TD strike and one-point PAT pass, pulling them within 10 points of Noxon, 47-37. 

Noxon scored its final TD of the game when, with 5:05 left in the game, the Noxon quarterback scrambled 15 yards for a touchdown. The PAT kick was good, putting the Red Devils in front 55-45. 

Two minutes later, Lincoln scored on a 17-yard run. The PAT kick was good, making the score 55-53 with 3:10 to play. 

Lincoln stopped Noxon on downs with 1:12 left in regulation and the ball on their own 22. They moved to the Noxon 27, then were pushed back to the 32 by a false start penalty that took away their potential field goal. 

With two ticks left on the clock, the Lincoln quarterback, under heavy pressure from the Noxon pass rush, scrambled around the backfield before releasing the last-ditch, time-expired pass. 

The throw was knocked down by Noxon defenders and the game ended with the Red Devils on top, 55-53. 

Next up for Noxon is a home game this Friday night (Sept 20) at 7 pm versus White Sulphur Springs.