SOUTH HILL, Va. — Lincoln's defense stood up and limited St. Paul's to 24 passing yards, but offensive miscues proved insurmountable in a 16-6 loss Saturday at Parkview High School. With the loss, Lincoln finishes 2009 with a 3-7 record, a two-win improvement from last year's inaugural campaign.

Timothy Green (Fanwood, Scott-Plains-Fanwood) routinely harassed the Tiger backfield with seven stops, two sacks for 13 yards, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Justin James (Philadelphia, PA, Roxborough) forced two balls to the turf as well, one of which was recovered by Eugene Lancaster (Virginia Beach, VA, Louisburg College) late in the fourth quarter.

Brandon McElwee (Gloucester City, NJ, Gloucester City Junior and Senior) recorded 13 tackles and two for losses while Brucelee Sterile (Miami, FL, North Miami Beach) had eight stops.

Overall, the defense had 11 stops behind the line for a total of 58 yards and three sacks for 22 yards. The two sophomore linebackers fought for the season lead in tackles all year, and Sterile held on despite McElwee's brilliant play Saturday, 88-87.

Offensively, though, Lincoln struggled to maintain possession, and the Tigers proved opportunistic, recording eight interceptions and one fumble recovery.

D'Ante Smith (Bowie. MD, Riverdale Baptist) continued to show signs of growth late, building off his 48-yard performance last week by rushing for 60 yards on 14 carries. Trey Thomas (Canton, GA, Woodstock) again led the receivers with five receptions for 46 yards and Lincoln's lone touchdown, a four-yard catch on a roll-out from quarterback Laquan Williams (Philadelphia, PA, Bartram) with 8:01 left in the third quarter.

The tone was set early in the game when Lincoln fumbled the exchange between Williams and Smith set up a 14-yard run by Jermaine Williams with 20 seconds into the game.

Lincoln held after an impressive march by the Tigers on SPC's second drive of the game, a drive kept alive when quarterback Korey Rose picked up a fourth and eight on a scramble. After driving inside the Lincoln five, the Tigers got called for a holding, and Ronald Love (Plainfield, NJ, Central) sacked Rose on third and goal. The Tigers were unsuccessful on fourth, and Lincoln attempted to recapture momentum.

On Lincoln's first possession of the second half, Lincoln marched down the field, and Williams found Thomas for the 4-yard touchdown reception, tying freshman wide out Matthew Coston (Queens, N.Y./Dover HS) for the team lead in touchdown grabs with four. Williams finished the day 14 of 26 with 108 yards but had four interceptions, all of which came on tipped passes.

Saint Paul's blocked the extra point, and Chris Spears sped off to the end zone for a two-point conversion and a 9-6 lead.

Saint Paul's would score on 9-yard run by Quarterback Alwan Lee with 4:14 remaining for the 16-6 final.