For four years, Andover’s Lincoln Beal reigned as one of the most explosive offensive weapons across Massachusetts and The Eagle-Tribune region football.
A move across town, and into prep football, proved to be no less spectacular.
The former Andover High All-Scholastic delivered another brilliant campaign this fall, as a postgraduate at Phillips Academy.
“It was an awesome experience going out and playing for Phillips,” said Beal. “The only challenge, at first, was learning a new playbook. I had the same one for four years before coming here. But everything else was smooth. It was a great season.”
The multifaceted 6-foot, 210-pound running back/receiver once again showed he could do it all with the ball in his hands.
Beal was Phillips Academy’s leading rusher and receiver this fall. In seven games, he ran for 508 on 78 carries (6.5 yards per rush) and six touchdowns, caught 37 passes for 606 yards and five touchdowns and completed one pass for 28 yards.
“The toughest part was just finding a routine and getting into it at a new school,” said Beal. “I felt comfortable from the first game (he scored three touchdowns). The coaches did an amazing job getting us prepared.”
In five high school seasons — he was a four-year starter for Andover High — Beal accumulated 3,216 yards and 44 touchdowns rushing and 152 catches for 2,645 yards and 26 touchdowns receiving. He also had 145 career tackles at Andover.
Beal chose to make the two-mile journey to attend Phillips for a postgrad year, in part, due to an injury last fall that cost him three games and slowed him throughout his senior season with the Golden Warriors.
“With Lincoln, the stats speak for themselves,” said Phillips coach Trey Brown. “He can do it on offense, defense and special teams. He’s super fast and elusive and has a football IQ you don’t find in many high school kids. He’s also a high-character guy who knows the game is bigger than wins and losses.”
Big games for Beal this season included two touchdown runs and a TD catch against Williston Northampton, a key TD catch in a win over Kent and a strong overall day against the Cheshire School.
With his high school career done, Beal is now on the search for his college football home.
“I feel like I’ve grown tremendously,” said Beal. “It was a great experience at Phillips, meeting new people and playing for these amazing coaches.
“Now I’m in the process of finding a good fit for football and academics for next year.”
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