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When Lincoln football coach Phil Ferrigno needs a few yards near the goal line or simply for a first down, he sends 6-foot-5, 320-pound Timoteo Potasi and 6-foot, 285-pound Ronald Phelps into the backfield.
Phelps, a three-year starter and 2015 AAA Offensive Lineman of the Year, has carried seven times for 45 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Phelps and Potasi make up the heart of the team’s big offensive and defensive front, which includes Abraham Faletagaloa (5-9, 285).
Lincoln (7-5) owns a distinct size advantage when it takes on Mission (8-4) in the 93rd Turkey Day Game on Thursday at Kezar Stadium to decide the San Francisco Section champion.
The winner of the 11 a.m. game advances to a CIF state regional play-in game the following week.
Both are youngest children from large families and both command respect with teammates for their relentless motors.
“Both play until the whistle blows,” Ferrigno said.
Though coaches don’t hear a peep out of Potasi, Phelps, nicknamed “the President,” rarely stops talking.
Phelps says the same about Potasi, who has 52 tackles and nine for loss.
Said Ferrigno: The kid is enormous, but I’ve seen him chase down running backs 30 yards down the field.
Phelps, also a basketball player and two-time AAA shot- put champion, has the grades, but his lack of height has kept scouts away.
Both don’t mind delaying Thanksgiving festivities to play Thursday, a rematch of the 2014 game, a 36-12 Mission victory.
Said Phelps: One of our very first goals was to wake Thanksgiving morning and go play a football game.
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Phelps, a three-year starter and 2015 AAA Offensive Lineman of the Year, has carried seven times for 45 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Phelps and Potasi make up the heart of the team’s big offensive and defensive front, which includes Abraham Faletagaloa (5-9, 285).
Lincoln (7-5) owns a distinct size advantage when it takes on Mission (8-4) in the 93rd Turkey Day Game on Thursday at Kezar Stadium to decide the San Francisco Section champion.
The winner of the 11 a.m. game advances to a CIF state regional play-in game the following week.
Both are youngest children from large families and both command respect with teammates for their relentless motors.
“Both play until the whistle blows,” Ferrigno said.
Though coaches don’t hear a peep out of Potasi, Phelps, nicknamed “the President,” rarely stops talking.
Phelps says the same about Potasi, who has 52 tackles and nine for loss.
Said Ferrigno: The kid is enormous, but I’ve seen him chase down running backs 30 yards down the field.
Phelps, also a basketball player and two-time AAA shot- put champion, has the grades, but his lack of height has kept scouts away.
Both don’t mind delaying Thanksgiving festivities to play Thursday, a rematch of the 2014 game, a 36-12 Mission victory.
Said Phelps: One of our very first goals was to wake Thanksgiving morning and go play a football game.
More...