Lincoln beats Newbury Park behind incredible TD grabs to reach state title game: Live updates recap

SportsCenter-quality plays happen on both sides in a chippy game that goes the San Diego team's way

Akili Smith Jr. and San Diego Lincoln play Brady Smigiel and Newbury Park for a spot in the state championship. / Rudy Schmoke

Expect some offensive fireworks Friday night in Southern California as two of the best high school quarterbacks in the country play for a spot in the state championship.

Junior Florida State commit Brady Smigiel leads Newbury Park against senior Oregon Ducks signee Akili Smith Jr. and San Diego Lincoln on Friday, Dec. 6, in the regional football championships.

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

Smigiel has thrown for 3,314 yards and 46 touchdowns this season, with senior Princeton commit Shane Rosenthal being his favorite target. Smith counters with 2,039 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Follow along below for live updates from the CIF regional bowl game between Newbury Park and Lincoln, which is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. PT Friday, Dec. 6, at Southwestern College.

You can also watch the game live on the NFHS Network (subscription required)

Newbury Park vs. Lincoln, Division I-AA regional bowl game live updates

PREGAME

Unsportsmanlike penalty flags flying before the game has even started.

Game will start late because of the penalties. Still unclear which team(s) will be penalized and how much. Here's some video:

1ST QUARTER

We're finally underway. Lincoln kicks from way deep because of the penalties, and Newbury Park will start in Hornets territory at the 35.

TOUCHDOWN NEWBURY PARK! Brady Smigiel hits Blake Bryce for a 19-yard TD and it's 7-0 Panthers with 10:04 left. Unsportsmanlike penalty on Newbury Park after the touchdown and will be assessed on the kickoff.

Lincoln starts its first drive on its own 41. And quickly punts. Newbury Park ball on its own 19, 9:17 left.

Three-and-out for Newbury Park and Akili Smith Jr. and crew start on their 43 trying to get something going.

TOUCHDOWN LINCOLN! Akili Smith Jr. fires a perfect 40-yard strike to a wide-open Isaiah Grant to tie it up 7-7. 6:43 left.

Brady Smigiel with a tough 14-yard run on third and 14 and Newbury Park is on the Lincoln 40 with 2:12 left.

FUMBLE! Brady Smigiel gets sacked by Niko Ta'a and loses the ball; Lincoln recovers on its own 35.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Newbury Park 7, San Diego Lincoln 7

2ND QUARTER

Lincoln shanks its punt and Newbury Park takes over on its own 45.

Shane Rosenthal has a 20-yard catch to the 35, but the Lincoln defense forces a punt thanks in part to another Niko Ta'a sack. 7:53 left, tied 7-7.

Another shanked Lincoln punt and punter Felix Benavidez looks hurt. Newbury Park ball on the Lincoln 40, 5:26 left.

TOUCHDOWN NEWBURY PARK! Brady Smigiel throws a dime to Drew Cofield for a 40-yard touchdown and it's 14-7 Panthers with 5:18 left. Personal foul on Lincoln after the PAT.

Newbury Park kicks from the Lincoln 30 after penalties so tries an onside kick, but it goes out of bounds so the Hornets get the ball on their own 21.

TOUCHDOWN LINCOLN! Akili Smith Jr. runs for a 29-yard touchdown to tied it up 14-14 with 3:39 left.

Newbury Park can't take advantage of a 50-yard kick return by Shane Rosenthal. Lincoln gets its sixth sack to force a fourth and 16 from the Hornets' 36.

Balen Betancourt downs the ball at the 1 on a Newbury Park punt but is getting helped off the field after he ran into the ref on the play. Just over two minutes left in the half.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Risky call by Lincoln, going for it on fourth and 11 from its own 40. Pass falls incomplete, so Newbury Park has it on the Lincoln 41 with 53 seconds left.

Ridiculous one-handed catch by Shane Rosenthal, who then gets nearly beheaded for a personal foul penalty. Newbury Park ball on the Lincoln 11 with 43 seconds left.

TOUCHDOWN NEWBURY PARK! Brady Smigiel keeps it himself for a 2-yard touchdown run and it's 21-14 Panthers with 21 seconds left.

HALFTIME: Newbury Park 21, Lincoln 14

3RD QUARTER

Second half kicks off after 10 p.m., so this game could spill into Saturday. Lincoln starts on its own 23.

Lincoln punts, and Newbury Park takes over on its own 44, leading 21-14 with 8:29 left.

Another SportsCenter-quality grab by Shane Rosenthal, laying out to make an incredible catch at the Lincoln 10.

FUMBLE! Lincoln gets a huge break, as Brady Smigiel mishandles the snap from inside the 10 and Lincoln's Rashad Scott recovers on the Hornets' 21. Just over six minutes left.

FUMBLE! Akili Smith Jr. coughs it up trying to gain some extra yards, as Blake Bryce gets the strip. Panthers ball on the Lincoln 36, 3:45 left leading 21-14.

TOUCHDOWN NEWBURY PARK! Shane Rosenthal with another highlight-reel catch, grabbing a dime from Brady Smigiel from 25 yards out to make it 27-14 after the PAT is no good. 1:59 left.

Sophomore Jordan Roa in at quarterback for Lincoln. Akili Smith Jr. is standing on the sideline.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Newbury Park 27, San Diego Lincoln 14

4TH QUARTER

Final quarter starts with a Lincoln punt, which hits a Newbury Park player and the Hornets recover. Lincoln ball on the Newbury Park 36.

Akili Smith Jr. is back in the game for Lincoln.

TOUCHDOWN LINCOLN! Cam Joy runs it in from 3 yards out and Lincoln cuts the Newbury Park lead to 27-21 with 9:47 left.

Tyler Stromsoe grinding out yards for Newbury Park, which has advanced into Lincoln territory with 5:39 left.

FUMBLE! Bad exchange between Smigiel and Stromsoe and Rashad Scott recovers on the Lincoln 44. 4:21 left.

Big third-down catch by Ty Olsen, who gets the first down at the 5 but is down with an injury. 3:15 left.

Blake Bryce sacks Akili Smith Jr. to force fourth and goal with 2:27 left from the 15. Lincoln lines up to go for it and Newbury Park calls timeout.

TOUCHDOWN LINCOLN! Incredible carom goes in the Hornets' favor, as what looked like a pass breakup fell into the hands of Joshua Newbern, who caught it while lying on his back in the end zone. It's 27-27 with 2:21 left after the PAT was blocked by Ryder Sheehan.

Quick three-and-out for Newbury Park that includes a personal foul penalty and ejection for the Panthers. Lincoln ball after the punt on its own 38 with 1:55 left, tied 27-27.

TOUCHDOWN LINCOLN! Courtney Miller keeps the human-highlight-reel-catch theme of this game going with a 13-yard TD grab with 21 seconds left. 34-27 Lincoln.

FINAL: San Diego Lincoln 34, Newbury Park 27

More California high school football news

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Calpreps predictions for CIF State high school football SoCal regional bowl games

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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive | @sblivesports