LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – As Lincoln prepares to face Southern Virginia in Week Three of the season, coach O.J. Abanishe is pleased after what he feels is the best week of practice his team has had this year. (GAME NOTES)
“We got a little too relaxed following the win over Cheyney,” Abanishe said. “This week, we ensured we had the necessary focus.”
The game kicks off at 1 p.m. at Avon Grove High School and is part of the NCAA's Take Your Kid to the Game Day. At 11 a.m., Lincoln hosts the Pepsi Pass, Punt & Kick Competition. Children ages 8-15 are eligible with champions awarded for boys and girls for different age groups. Birth certificates must be presented for proof of age.
Lincoln opened the season with a 41-20 win over Cheyney at Northeast High School in Philadelphia but followed the performance with a 33-10 loss to New Haven last week in the home opener. Southern Virginia lost its first two games – a 63-10 drubbing to Concord and a 61-10 defeat to Morehead State last Saturday.
Southern Virginia and Lincoln met last year in Buena Vista, Va., which Lincoln lost, 55-25, but the Lions trailed just 14-7 after the opening frame. The Knights blew open the game in the second and third, scoring 41 straight points. The Lions answered with 14 in the fourth.
Offensively, SVU is led by quarterback Sam Trulock and wide out Brad Schultz as the two have combined for the team's lone touchdowns this season. Schultz recorded three receptions against Morehead State for 85 yards. The ground game struggled, netting just 16 yards on 30 carries.
The Lion offense hopes to return to form against Cheyney when Lincoln generated 369 yards, 223 of which came on the ground. Sophomore back D'Ante Smith (Bowie. Md./Riverdale Baptist HS) (Bowie, Md.) and Christopher Darby (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) (Pittsburgh) accounted for 197 yards of that total. They were limited to less than 90 as a duo against New Haven.
Smith is unavailable this week, as he has had to tend to family matters. In his absence, wide out Trey Thomas (Canton, GA/Woodstock) (Canton, Ga.) gets the start in the running game. Quarterback Kareem Dennis (Philadelphia, PA/Lincoln) (Philadelphia, Pa.) moves to wide out. Brandon Austin (Greenville, N.C./Farmville Central) (Greenville, N.C.) returns under center since his start against Cheyney. The transfer from Louisburg College (N.C.) saw his two drives end in turnovers, but Abanishe said he has grasped a better understanding of the offense and to expect better decision making in his second go-around.
Lincoln hosts Shaw University Saturday, Sept, 19. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. at Avon Grove High School.
