Last week in only his second start at tailback, he rushed for 271 yards and scored three touchdowns. He also caught a 34-yard touchdown in their Golden Bears’ 55-42 loss to Madison County in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.
For the performance, Gamble was recognized by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and the AHSAA. His 271 yards rushing was second highest in the state last week behind Jermarcus Brown, who rushed 286 yards in a win over Cedar Bluff.
“It was just an unbelievable game on Friday night,” Lincoln head coach Ryan Herring said. “He was running the ball hard, finding the wholes where there didn’t seem there was one and when they were there — running through people.
“I know they had kid going to Troy, and he just ran right through him one time. Running inside, running outside, he did it all. He ran it on lead, on toss, on counter and we moved him out there and threw him a touchdown pass one time. It was an unbelievable game for senior, the great thing is that he is a sophomore.”
Gamble had a successful season before changing positions. As a wide receiver he caught 46 catches on the season for 710 yards and 11 touchdowns. Against Hokes Bluff he recorded eight receptions for 179 yards and five touchdowns.
“I am pretty sure he set the single season reception record for Lincoln High School,” Herring said. “I think he had 45 catches and that a Lincoln record. I don’t know if that was a rushing record, but it may be a playoff record. I haven’t been able to get to all that stuff and find out. I had been told by everybody that they never had 45 balls caught — they have never thrown it that much.
“You think a good coach would have had him at tailback all year, but I am glad we found out about them when we did.”
In his two starts at running back, he rushed 373 yards and six touchdowns. In other games, he has rushed for 499 yards and six touchdowns, which puts him in second rushing yards for Lincoln.
“They give me a lot of confidence,” Gamble said. “Knowing that I could go in where ever the coach puts me and I can play. If play running back running back, I can do what I did. If he puts me a wide receiver, I can do what I did.”
Herring said he believes the sky is the limit for Gamble.
“He can be as good as he wants to be,” Herring said. “He has just enough size right now that his size wont hold him back. His speed or strength should hold him back. He has all the physical attributes after going through a real off-season weight program. He will all the physical attributes next year that anybody else will have that big schools are looking at.”
