THE BASICS
Game #3: Lincoln (PA) (0-2) at Alderson-Broaddus (0-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 16 - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Philippi, W.Va.
Stadium (Capacity): Multi-Sport Performance Stadium (2,000)
Live Video/Stats – http://portal.stretchinternet.com/aldersonbroaddus
Series – Alderson Broaddus leads the series 1-0
THE OPENING KICK
Saturday's game will be Lincoln's the final non-conference game of their 2017
Since the program was revived in 2008, Lincoln is 9-20 overall in non-conference games and 3-9 in non-conference road games.
The Lions last non-conference road win came in 2015, a 28-17 victory at North Carolina Wesleyan on September 12, 2015.
Both teams are seeking their first win as the Lions opened their season with a 56-28 loss at Cheyney University and a 49-19 loss at Lincoln (Mo.). The Battlers opened the season with a 42-24 home loss to Saginaw Valley State and a 50-21 loss at Quincy (Ill.).
LAST MEETING
Lincoln scored three early touchdowns but Alderson-Broaddus battled back outscoring the Lions 28-3 the rest of the way for a 28-24 victory spoiling Lincoln's home opener in 2015.
Lincoln got off to a quick start as running back
Stephen Scott (Baltimore City, Maryland/Bethel College) capped an eight play drive-75 yard drive with three yard rushing touchdown on the Lions first possession. The point-after-attempt was good by kicker
Brett Arkelian giving Lincoln a 7-0 lead
On the ensuing kickoff Alderson Broaddus failed to receive the kick and the Lions recovered a free ball in Battlers territory. Defensive back
Brion Robinson recovered the loose ball giving the LU offense possession. Scott then took four straight carries and found the end zone from 11 yards out for his second touchdown of the game. On the Battlers opening possession on offense, the Lincoln defense forced an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
Robinson extended the LU advantage to 21-0 by picking off the quarterback and returning the interception for a 30 yard touchdown Alderson Broaddus capitalized on their third drive finding the end zone for a 21-7 contest. At the beginning of the second quarter ABU tacked on another passing touchdown cutting into the LU lead 21-14. ABU's kicker Jordan Butler converted on a 25-yard made field goal making the game 21-17 midway through second quarter.
In the third quarter, Arkelian converted on a career-long 41-yard field goal to push the lead to 24-17. ABU made a 30-yard field goal with 17 seconds left. The field goal made the game 24-20 heading into the final quarter.
A safety and a touchdown by the Battlers gave ABU the lead for the first time at 28-24. The Battler defense forced a late fumble and the offense then ran out the clock to seal the win.
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LAST TIME OUT…
The Lincoln University football team's passing game was just about the only thing that appeared to be working right for the Lions as they dropped their second consecutive game 49-19last Saturday to Lincoln University of Missouri in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Lions quarterback
Vincent Espinoza (Madera, Calif./Madera (West Hills)) tossed three touchdown passes to three different receivers while completing eight of 18 pass attempts for 182 yards of offense without an interception.
Rameses Owens (Warrensville Hgts., Ohio/Shaker Heights Robert Morris)) rushed for a net total of 27 yards, however the Lions as a team were held to zero net yardage on the ground.
On the defensive side, the young Lions squad gave up 442 yards of total offense to the Blue Tigers including 265 yards on the ground. Junior linebacker
Deion Miller (Sayreville, N.J./Jersey Coast Academy) did record 18 total tackles (13 unassisted), the third highest single game total in recent program history.
Trailing 21-0 just six minutes into the second quarter, the Lions, for the second consecutive game found themselves forced to play from behind. On their first possession of the second quarter, the Lions got on the scoreboard as Espinoza connected with
Andre Price (Rialto, Calif./Jurupa Hills (Chabot)) for a 24 yard touchdown pass. The touchdown was set up by Price's 49-yard catch from Espinoza one play earlier. The Lions forced a three-and-out on the Blue Tigers next possession and following a poor punt had excellent field position at the Blue Tigers 26-yard line. Espinoza needed just one play to give the Lions their second touchdown of the game, connecting with
Carlos Croslin (Baltimore, Md./Frederick Douglass (Globe Tech) ) for 26 yards and the score.
Cody Waddell (Elkton, Md./Northeast) added the extra point making the score 21-13.
The Blue Tigers opening drive in the third quarter into the red zone went for naught as the Lions'
Keenan Reid (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) intercepted a pass giving the Lions the ball on their own three-yard line. One play later however
Justin Johnson (Etters, Pa./Red Land) was brought down in the end zone for a Blue Tiger safety and a 23-13 lead. Lincoln (Mo.) added 17 straight points to blow the game open at 40-13 before Espinoza hooked up with
Elijah Smith (Elmont, N.Y./Sewanhaka (Monroe College)) for 66 yards and the touchdown.. The extra point attempt however was fumbled and was run back by Blue Tiger Amani Nelson for a two-point defensive PAT, making the score 42-19. The Blue Tigers rounded out the scoring on the next possession with a 10-play 73-yard drive, all on the ground to make the final score 49-19.
LIONS TO WATCH
Offense – Quarterback
Vincent Espinoza (Madera, Calif./Madera (West Hills)) has completed 19 of 37 passes in his two starts for 311 total yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Last time out Espinoza had Espinoza totaled 182 yards passing and had two touchdown tosses. He also has gained 44 yards on the ground and had one touchdown rushing. Running Back
Rameses Owens (Warrensville Hgts., Ohio/Shaker Heights Robert Morris)) netted 103 yards rushing in his two games as a lion while scoring two touchdowns.
Andre Price (Rialto, Calif./Jurupa Hills (Chabot)) leads the team with nine receptions and two touchdowns.
Defense – Junior linebacker
Deion Miller (Sayreville, N.J./Jersey Coast Academy), a Second Team All-CIAA honoree last season recorded a career-high 18 tackles in the loss at Linocl (Mo.). his perfroamnce earned him the CIAA DefensiveBack of the Week award as well as the ECAC defensive Player of the Week Award. The Lions have forced six fumbles in their two games, recovering three. Freshman rob Thomas reached double figures in tackles last week and has 15 on the season.
Special Teams – Carlos Croslin (Baltimore, Md./Frederick Douglass (Globe Tech) ) returned ten kickoffs for a total of 188 yards, including a 65 yard run vs. Cheyney.
Cody Waddell (Elkton, Md./Northeast), Lincoln's primary punter averaged 36 yards per punt while Espinoza is averaging 39.0 yards per punt. Waddell is averaging 43.4 yard on kickoffs.
BLUE TIGERS TO WATCH
Offense – Jermaine Lynn and Zack Lake lead the Battlers receiving corps. with 11 and nine receptions apiece. Quarterback Connor McWilliams has thrown for nearly 600 yards in AB's first two games with 47 completions (80 att,) and four touchdowns.
Defense - William Bailey leads the team with 11 tackles while Paul Gabel and Tymiere Griffin have ten apiece. The Battlers have three total sacks on the season Da'Quan Lewis has AB's lone interception of the season.
Special Teams - Maurice Thomas is the Battlers primary kick returner, netting 175 yards in seven returns. Grant Noon has averaged 43.3 yards per punt including three inside the 20 yard line and two kicks of 50 or more yards. D.J. Opsatnick is averaging 46.4 yards per kickoff and has a field goal on the season.
THE COACHES
Reginald Byarse, Jr. was named the interim head coach of the Lions on May 1, 2017. Byarse, 29, has the distinction of being the youngest head coach of an NCAA Division II football program this season. No stranger to the Lincoln football program, Byarse spent the last season as the Lions' Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach where he coordinated and managed all aspects of special teams position/positions assignment. Lincoln's punt return unit was one of only six Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) schools to average over ten yards per return in the 2016 season. Byarse also was heavily involved in opponent evaluation and development of defensive game plans and assists with the administrative functions of the program. He spent the previous six seasons working at the high school level in various capacities. He graduated from Cincinnati in 2011.
Salvatore Dewalt was named the head coach of the Alderson Broaddus football team in March, 2017, after spending the past three seasons on staff as the Offensive Line Coach and Director of Football Operations. During his first three seasons on staff Dewalt has helped the Battler offense average 33 points, 164 rushing yards and 243 passing yards per game. Dewalt's offensive line also helped paved the way for running back Brandon Jones who was named second-team All-American in 2014. Prior to his time at AB Dewalt spent three seasons as the Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator at Randolph-Macon College. RMC averaged 33 points and 212 yards per game on the ground in Dewalt's tenure. Dewalt also tutored six All-Conference selections along the offensive line. Running back Will McGhee broke the school record for rushing in 2013 with 1,676 yards.
UP NEXT FOR THE LIONS
Lincoln returns home to open their CIAA slate with a game against St. Augustine's University at Lions Stadium on September 23. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m.
