Washington’s Top 50 High School Football Teams: Can Gabarri Johnson and Jayden Wayne # 15 Take Lincoln of Tacoma To New Program Heights? – High school sports news, results, videos, leaderboards
SBLive previews the 50 best Washington high school teams ahead of the fall 2021 season. Here’s a sneak peek at the Lincoln Abes of the 3A Pierce County League – the number 15 team on our countdown.
SPRING 2021 IN REVIEW
4-2 in 3A Pierce County League (second place).
LIFE OF THE COACH
- Masaki Matsumoto, seventh season.
- Overall balance: 50-11.
- Coordinators: OK – Shalls Jacome (Spread); DC – Sean Banks (4-2-5).
REMARKABLE DEPARTURES
WR / DB Darius Bailey
WR / DB Amarian Culpepper
OL / DL PJ Kamuta
WR / DB Joziah Nixon
RETURN STARTER
Attack – 5th Defense – 6th
TOP PLAYER
WR Chance Bogan, 6-4, 215, sr.
RB / LB Navarra Dixon 5-0, 200, soph.
WR / DB Ace Falenofoa, 6-1, 185, sr.
LB Aaron Jimenez, 6-0, 225, sr.
QB Gabarri Johnson, 6-0, 200, Jr.
WR / DB Stephon Pugh, 6-12, 180, jr.
OL / DL Tua Tauiliili, 6-3, 245, sr.
DL / WR Jayden Wayne, 6-5, 245, Jr.
TO SEE THREE
Chance Bogan, wide receiver
The University of Washington signing is a tight size with Power 5 recruiting and athletics, which offers two-threat quarterback Gabarri Johnson another elite option on the field.
Gabarri Johnson, quarterback
Four Star Dual Threat showed stunning playmaker skills in his freshman year, which he started in his sophomore year, and followed him with a productive summer. High coverage producer for the big event.
Jayden Wayne, Defensive End / Wide Receiver
Few edge rushers can match the size, strength, and rank of this five-star prospect – Washington’s No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class. Make sure he’s more involved in short passing, too.
OUTLOOK AUTUMN 2021
The question has never been if the Abes will put the pieces together, however if.
The star-studded but inexperienced Lincoln returned to the drawing board after suffering a surprising, emphatic defeat at the season opener to eventual 3A PCL champion Spanaway Lake in the spring.
After a 3A semi-final run in 2019, Lincoln is still on the hunt for the city’s first state title since 1980. After a string of recent successes, the Abes are leaning in that direction.
They’re stepping into the fall season, giving back half of their starting lineup, which includes three high profile prospects in Jayden Wayne, Gabarri Johnson, and UW Commit Chance Bogan. But coach Masaki Matsumoto is the first to say that no team can do with talent alone.
“It’s not just about talent,” said Matsumoto. “We have to bring it together, play as a team, buy in, and that’s the message I hope you understand.”
The catalyst for the Abes offensive is Johnson, a four-star junior with two threats who took the starting role in his sophomore year and became a game-changing playmaker by the end of the year.
“I’ve grown up a lot only in terms of maturity,” said Matsumoto. “We really pushed him, held him accountable … there have been some ups and downs, growing pains and got off better. When we started playing football in the spring and summer, he was a different person, he was more self-confident. “
He has Wayne – the state’s best recruit in 2023 – and Bogan, along with a strong group of other talented players, at his disposal.
In the trenches, the Abes have the greatest continuity, bringing back multiple starters, including the outstanding two-way Tua Tauiliili and a high quality depth.
SCHEDULE AUTUMN 2021
- September 3 at Yelm
- September 10 vs. Skyline
- September 17th in Bellevue
- September 23 at Spanaway Lake
- Oct 1 vs. Mount Tahoma
- Oct 8 at Bonney Lake
- October 15 vs. stadium
- Oct. 23 in lakes
- October 29 against Silas (formerly Wilson)
(Featured photo by Vince Miller)
