High School

Oregon-bound QB Akili Smith Jr. leads San Diego Lincoln over Pittsburg for California high school football title

Smith accounts for four touchdowns, and the Hornets hold on for a 28-26 win over the Pirates in the CIF Division 1-AA state championship game

JD Humburg, SBLive Sports

Akili Smith Jr. had three touchdown passes and a touchdown run in Lincoln's 28-26 title-clinching win over Pittsburg.
Akili Smith Jr. had three touchdown passes and a touchdown run in Lincoln's 28-26 title-clinching win over Pittsburg. / Photo: Justin Fine

The Lincoln Hornets (11-2) of San Diego face the Pittsburg Pirates (12-2) in the California high school football 1-AA championship game Friday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

CIF championship game previews, storylines

Lincoln is led by Oregon-bound quarterback Akili Smith Jr., a 6-foot-5, 215-pound standout who is ranked the No. 18 senior recruit in California. He has passed for 2,302 yards and 21 touchdowns (11 interceptions) this season, with career totals of 7,165 passing yards and 75 touchdowns.

Pittsburg is led by a quarterback with similar (or better) production despite a very different body and recruitment history. Marley Alcantara is a 5-foot-7 senior with 2,825 passing yards and 40 touchdown passes (and zero interceptions!) this season. He is headed to NAIA Southern Oregon.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Pacific time, and High School on SI will have live updates from the game right here.

You can also watch the game live on the NFHS Network.

Refresh this page for live updates after the game starts.

Lincoln vs. Pittsburg live updates

First quarter

Pittsburg wins the toss and defers. Akili Smith Jr. and Lincoln will have the ball first.

First eight plays of the game are runs by Lincoln. Junior Curtis a 4-yard run. Isaiah Grant 15-yard run. Donald Reed II with two short gains. Akili Smith Jr. runs for 10. Then a big tackle for loss by UCLA-bound Jewelous Walls. Donald Reed II 15-yard run. Curtis for two yards. Finally, a pass — two, in fact. Both incompletions. Lincoln attempts a 29-yard field goal ... and misses. Pittsburg ball.

Lincoln forces a 3-and-out on Pittsburg's first possession. Punt. Lincoln takes over with great field position — at the Pittsburg 46.

Lincoln keeps it mostly on the ground. Junior Curtis' 14-yard gain the big play. Curtis also with a five-yard run on 4th-and-1. On 3rd-and-goal from the 6, Lincoln gets its first completed pass of the game — a 6-yard touchdown from Akili Smith Jr. to Courtney Miller-Thompson. Felix Benavidez PAT good. Lincoln 7, Pittsburg 0, 3:06 1st quarter.

Pittsburg's first play of its second drive is a 40-yard run by Jamar Searcy. Two plays later, Pittsburg quarterback Marley Alcantara is intercepted for the first time in 15 games this season. Lincoln senior safety Abdulahi Sharif gets the pick — in the end zone.

End of first quarter. Lincoln leads 7-0.

Second quarter

Pittsburg's Aries Jenkins and Elijah Bow bring down Akili Smith Jr. for a 15-yard loss. Lincoln punts. Pittsburg will have great field position.

One play: Jamar Searcy 47-yard touchdown run. It's the 17th TD of the season for the Washington State-bound running back. Bryan Capetillo PAT good. Lincoln 7, Pittsburg 7, 10:34 2nd quarter.

Lincoln sophomore quarterback Jordan Roa in for Akili Smith Jr. this drive. He completes his first pass and leads a pretty good drive ... but it ends with him being intercepted by UCLA-bound Pittsburg safety Jadyn Hudson at the 15-yard line. It's Hudson's 10th INT of the season. There is 5:20 left in the half.

Lincoln forces a punt and gets the ball with 3:30 left in the half. Akili Smith Jr. reenters the game and on the first play of the drive completes a beautiful 42-yard pass down the sideline to Isaiah Grant. A few plays later, he fires a 12-yard touchdown pass to San Jose State signee Ty Olsen in the corner of the end zone. It's Olsen's 12th TD catch of the season. Felix Benavidez PAT good. Lincoln 14, Pittsburg 7, 1:43 2nd quarter.

With 20 seconds left in the half, Marley Alcantara fires a 23-yard pass to Jamar Searcy to the 2-yard line. Next play, Searcy scores from 2 yards. Bryan Capetillo PAT good. Lincoln 14, Pittsburg 14, 0:12 2nd quarter.

End of second quarter. Tied 14-14. What a first half!

Third quarter

Pittsburg gets the ball to begin the half, but Lincoln forces a quick punt. Quarterback Marley Alcantara, also the punter, boots a good one. Lincoln ball at the 8-yard line.

Third play of Lincoln drive: Akili Smith Jr. to Isaiah Grant for a 73-yard touchdown. Smith has four completions — three of them touchdowns (to three different receivers). Felix Benavidez PAT good. Lincoln 21, Pittsburg 14, 9:15 3rd quarter.

Pittsburg answers again. Jamar Searcy 1-yard touchdown run. His third TD of the game. The play before the score, he had a great one-handed catch at the 1-yard line. Missed PAT could prove costly, though. Lincoln 21, Pittsburg 20, 5:06 3rd quarter.

End of third quarter. Lincoln leads 21-20.

Fourth quarter

Pittsburg forces a punt and will have the ball to begin the fourth quarter, trailing by one point. Jamar Searcy with a nice 16-yard punt return. He really can do it all.

Lincoln defense steps up and forces a quick 3-and-out.

Junior Curtis with a couple of big gains, including a 16-yard run. Drive ends with Akili Smith Jr. rushing for a 7-yard touchdown. He's accounted for all four Lincoln touchdowns — three passing, one rushing. This PAT is big ... and it's good by Felix Benavidez. Lincoln 28, Pittsburg 20, 3:44 4th quarter.

Pittsburg senior Makari Kenion with a great catch-and-run. Jamar Searcy breaks off a big run (nothing new there). Pittsburg already in the red zone.

Fourth-and-2 from the 4-yard line ... Jamar Searcy gets the first down, and his second effort gets him in the end zone for a Pittsburg touchdown! Searcy has all four Pittsburg TDs. But on the 2-point try, he comes up just short. Lincoln 28, Pittsburg 26, 1:19 4th quarter.

Pittsburg's onside kick is recovered by Lincoln. Pittsburg needs some sort of miracle at this point.

Lincoln to punt, 16 seconds to play. Pittsburg will get the ball back for maybe two plays.

Well, just one play. Prince Tavizon gets a sack, and time runs out. Lincoln wins the title.

Final: Lincoln 28, Pittsburg 26

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

Published |Modified
JD Humburg, SBLive Sports
JD HUMBURG, SBLIVE SPORTS

JD Humburg is a Managing Editor for SBLive Sports.

Home/California