Ramirez racked up 177 yards on 22 carries with four going for touchdowns. He also pulled down one pass, turning it into a 44-yard touchdown. He was the spearhead for the formidable Lions running game that gave the visiting Willow Glen Rams more than they could handle in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division contest. The result was a solid 41-22 win for the Lions.

The win kept Lincoln (7-0-1, 4-0-1) undefeated on the year and tied with Westmont for the top spot in the division. Willow Glen dropped to 1-4 in division play and 3-6 overall.

The Lions didn't waste any time demonstrating what has made them so successful this season. They took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards on a 12-play drive that stayed on the ground except for one pass attempt.

Ramirez, along with his backfield cohorts juniors Chris Mendoza and Michael Fleet, pounded the ball right down the throat of the Rams defense. Ramirez converted a fourth and two midway through the drive with a four-yard burst to keep it alive and then rambled in from 27 yards out for the score. Ramirez slanted up the middle before deftly cutting to the outside and racing to the corner of the end zone. Quarterback Tarik Hakmi booted the PAT and Lincoln took a 7-0 lead that it never relinquished.

The Rams came charging back and looked like they just might make a game of it. Paul Nino returned the ensuing kickoff 17 yards to give Willow Glen excellent field position at its own 40-yard line. Quarterback Juan Baron fired a 19-yard strike to Jason Gibilisco to put the Rams deep in Lions territory before the LIncoln defense stiffened and the drive stalled at the 21. Rams kicker McCabe Tonna came in and split the uprights with a 38-yard field goal to bring the Rams back to a 7-3 deficit with 3:23 left in the first quarter.

Unfortunately for the Rams, that would be the last time they would light up the scoreboard until midway through the fourth quarter. The Lions well-oiled running machine kicked into high gear and put up 34 unanswered points while the Lions defense held the Rams attack at bay.

Willow Glen continued to flirt with offensive success throughout the first half with the hard-nosed running of Marcos Garces and Anthony Doan and the arm of Baron, but the Lincoln defense always stiffened at the necessary time to halt the effort. That defensive surge was led by defensive back Devin Hartman and Medina. They received plenty of support from defensive backs Mitchell Johnson and Kyle Martinez and lineman Joseph Morado.

The Rams have played tough in the fourth quarter all season long and the Lions got a taste of that when the final 12 minutes came along. "Our kids fought the whole time and never quit," Willow Glen coach Andy Penwarden said. "We played well in the fourth quarter."

Willow Glen put together an eight-play 75 yard drive primarily on the running of Garces and Peter Nino. The drive culminated with Nino scampering in on an eight-yard reverse with 6:07 left in the game.

The Rams perfectly executed an onside kick with Tonna bouncing the ball up into the air and Angel Posada diving for the loose ball. Three plays later, Baron hit Garces with a screen pass and a key block by lineman Grant Morrow opened the door for Garces to break free for a 46-yard touchdown.

Garces was not done yet and put up another score with a 29-yard sweep with 2:32 on the clock. He finished the night with 78 yards on 13 carries. He also pulled down three passes for 63 yards. Doan got the call nine times and pounded out 49 yards. Peter Nino went four times for a net 12 yards including one touchdown and caught one five-yard pass. Quarterback Baron connected on six of 11 efforts for 88 yards and the one touchdown to Garces.

The Rams defense made the Lions work hard for every yard they gained. Linebackers Eric Zetterquist and Mike Roseland were all over the field and led the Ram counter attack. There was solid support in the trenches from Gerardo Cisneros and Uriel Basilio. Defensive backs Garces, Posada and Gibilisco mopped up anything that got into the secondary.

The Rams will close out their season, hosting Mt. Pleasant in a 2:45 p.m. game on Nov. 10.