LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. — The last time the Lincoln University football (2-1) team was in this position, it got too caught up in the celebration and lost focus on the next week's game.
The Lions opened with a 41-20 win over Cheyney and followed it with a dud, a 33-10 loss to New Haven in the home opener. Coach O.J. Abanishe, who took the blame for the lack of focus, promised it would not happen again, so following a 29-8 win over Southern Virginia, expect a determined team this Saturday against Shaw (3-0). GAME NOTES
The Bears are the toughest game on the schedule. The 2008 CIAA conference champs defeated FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) school Bethune-Cookman, 20-6 in Week Two.
Luckily for Lincoln, Abanishe feels his squad may have played the best football in the second half against Southern Virginia. Under the guidance of junior quarterback Brandon Austin (Greenville, N.C./Farmville Central) (Greenville, N.C.), the offense regularly marched down the field. Austin had tossed for 304 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 53 yards.
Late in that game, though, Austin aggravated a hamstring injury that slowed him during training camp. His status for this game is unclear and will be a game-time decision.
Whoever is under center will have the help of a defense that has held opponents under 10 points in two games already this year. Last week, the secondary came away with six interceptions, led by Jairon Bailey (Compton, Calif./Locke) (Compton, Calif.) and Anthony Bell (Atlanta, GA/Lithonia) (Canton,Ga.), who had two apiece.
Such efforts will be needed again this week. Shaw took all 16 first-place votes in the Hertiage Sports Radio Network (HSRN) Division II poll. The Bears rank second in scoring offense (34 ppg) and defense (18.7 ppg) and are the only team in the CIAA to make it through the first three weeks unscathed.
Their pass defense has been every bit the equal of the Lions'. They have nine interceptions that is a part of the CIAA's strongest pass efficiency rating.
Shaw looks to control the ball through the use of the ground game. Raymond Williams averages 104 yards per game at 6.4 yards per carry. Williams and Shaw's offensive line will be a big test for Lincoln's front seven, led by Brucelee Sterile (Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach HS) (Miami, Fla.) and Brandon McElwee (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City Junior and Senior HS) (Gloucester, N.J.). Sterile leads Lincoln with 29 stops, but McElwee has pestered the enemy backfield. He has 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss to go along with his 21 takedowns.
Next week, Lincoln travels to Salisbury, N.C., for its first game outside of Pennsylvania to face Livingstone College.
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