Behind big third quarter, Lincoln takes Homecoming game, 31-15

WEST GROVE, Pa. – Behind a 19-point third quarter, the Lincoln University football team won its first Homecoming game since the return of football in 2008, as the Lions knocked off Chowan, 31-15, on Saturday afternoon in a CIAA Northern Division showdown at Avon Grove High School.

The Lions (2-4 overall, 2-2 CIAA) opened the game with a big kickoff return by Lance Rutledge to set up Lincoln at the Chowan 25-yard line. Four plays later, Gerald Swain scored on a 2-yard touchdown up the middle to give the Lions a 6-0 advantage with 13:22 remaining in the opening quarter.



“We always prepare to start off any game with that type of kickoff,” Lincoln head coach O.J. Abanishe said. “We have been preaching all week to play four quarters. We got another huge game from Kyle Jaski, who has been doing that all season for us.”

The Hawks (1-5, 0-4) answered the Lincoln scoring drive by marching 55 yards in 10 plays as Robert Holland caught a 2-yard pass by Jordan Roby to give Chowan a 7-6 lead with 4:56 left.

Lincoln ended the opening quarter by driving 91 yards in 11 plays, capped by Doug Cook connecting with Matthew Coston for a 10-yard touchdown pass to give the Lions a 12-7 advantage. After a timeout, Lincoln went for the 2-point conversion, but Anthony Wilson couldn't hold on to the Cook pass to keep the game at 12-7 with 18 seconds remaining.

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Rally falls short as WVWC Bobcats down Lincoln (Pa.) Lions

West Grove, Pennsylvania - Despite a strong second half, the Lincoln University football team couldn't rally from a big first-half deficit as the Lions fell just short in their comeback attempt Saturday as West Virginia Wesleyan remained unbeaten with a 37-26 victory at Avon Grove High School.

“We started slow, but played hard in the second half,” Lincoln head coach O.J. Abanishe said. “We just have to put four quarters of football together.”

After both teams had slow starts in the opening quarter, the Bobcats (5-0) struck first with an 11-play, 51-yard drive as Adam Neugebauer, who was 32-of-45 passing for 345 yards and four touchdowns, connected with Brandon Hoffman for a 3-yard touchdown to give West Virginia Wesleyan a 7-0 lead with 1:09 left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Philip Jean-Juste, who finished with 82 yards on seven catches and two returns for 50 yards, returned the ball 36 yards to the 50 yard line and a penalty by West Virginia Wesleyan advanced the ball five more yards. After picking up four yards on first down, Doug Cook, who was 28 of 58 through the air for 350 yards and three touchdowns, connected with Jean-Juste down the left sideline for 40 yards, setting up the Lions at first-and-goal at the Bobcats' 1. Mason Colton punched it in from a yard out to cut the deficit to 7-6 as the extra point was blocked with four seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

The second quarter belonged to West Virginia Wesleyan as the Bobcats scored 20 unanswered points to take a 27-6 lead into the break.



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Laughinghouse, Mathis Spark Falcons Over Lincoln (Pa.) 34-17

DURHAM, NC – Saint Augustine's College found its offensive rhythm in a 34-17 CIAA football victory over Lincoln (Pa.) Saturday at Durham County Stadium.

The Falcons hurt the Lions on the ground and through the air. Preseason All-CIAA player Tyron Laughinghouse (Sr./Greenville, N.C.) scored three touchdowns including two on pass catches, and Dennis Mathis (Sr./Hampton, Va.) gained 157 yards and scored one touchdown on 27 carries.

The Falcons gained 387 total offensive yards including 138 rushing yards, both season highs. It led to their first conference victory of the season and kept them in the race for the Southern Division title. The Falcons are 1-1 in the CIAA and 2-2 overall.

The Lions (1-2 CIAA, 1-3 overall) were sky-high after snapping a 13-game losing streak last weekend with a win over Virginia Union. The Falcons dashed any thoughts of another upset by scoring on their first three possessions in the opening minutes.

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KSU-Lincoln game will be battle of QBs

Frankfort, KY -- Kentucky State’s football home opener could be an air show. The Thorobreds (1-0) host Lincoln University Saturday with kickoff set for 5 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.

Both teams’ quarterbacks had big days in their season openers last week.

Lincoln lost on the road last Saturday to Cheyney, 21-19. In that game freshman quarterback Doug Cook went 30-for-47 for 317 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions.

Senior quarterback Jerel Noland earned SIAC offensive player of the week honors for his performance in the Thorobreds’ 39-21 win over Central State Sunday in the Dayton Classic. Noland went 13-for-16 for 218 yards. He threw for four touchdowns and had no interceptions.

Lincoln rallied late last week before falling to Cheyney.

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Cheyney plays host to Lincoln

THORNBURY, PA -- In 11 all-time meetings against archrival Lincoln dating back to 1934, the Cheyney football squad is still looking for its first triumph against the Lions. And the two most recent setbacks are particularly galling to the Wolves.

In just its second season since reviving its program after a 48-year hiatus, Lincoln throttled CU 41-20 in 2009. And last year in another neutral site clash at Northeast High School in Philadelphia, the Lions prevailed 12-0 in a defensive struggle.



For the third straight year, these cross-county archrivals will kickoff the 2011 campaign against one another (1 p.m., Heritage Sports Radio Network on Sirus XM Satellite Radio) on Saturday. But this time the "Battle of the Firsts/Wade Wilson Classic" will take place on campus at Cheyney's O'Shields-Stevenson Stadium, and many in the Wolves' camp believe the setting will be right for an historic victory.

"I am real anxious about this game," said CU defensive lineman Tim Hume. "They got us the last two years so they've had bragging rights, but it's here in our own house this time and we have to bring a lot. I am sure it will be a big crowd because the schools are close. It's going to be real intense.

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Sterile turning into vocal leader for Lincoln defense

LOWER OXFORD, PA -- The hoarse voice and strained vocal chords are just the latest indication how much Brucelee Sterile has developed into a vocal leader for the Lincoln University football squad.

"I lost my voice screaming and preaching to the team that we are going to be winners this season," Sterile said recently as the Lions' prepare for their season opener on Saturday at archrival Cheyney.

"I take this seriously. If you don't have someone watching and pushing, you won't reach your full potential."

The senior linebacker is getting an awful lot of personal recognition heading into the 2011 campaign, but Sterile is much more interested in helping orchestrate a breakout season at Lincoln, which reinstituted football in 2008 after a 47 year hiatus. Sterile and 18 other seniors were the program's first recruiting class since the 1950s.

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CIAA Tournament: Lincoln women fall in first CIAA tourney game

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sharay Dubose scored 27 points -- her second highest total of the year — but it wasn't enough as Shaw spoiled Lincolns' debut in the CIAA conference tourney, turning back the Lady Lions by a score of 95-63.

The Bears (18-11) came into the tourney as the number two seed in the South Division, while the Lions (3-24) were the seventh seed.

Lincoln came out of the gate strong, paced by the hot hand of DeJuana Mosley, who scored eight of Lincoln's first 13 points, and the Lady Lions either led or were tied for the lead for the first ten minutes of the game.

Shaw Offensive Firepower Rolls Over Lincoln 95-63
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The inside trio of Demaria Liles, Kyra Buford and Aslea Williams combined to score over half of Shaw's points in a 95-63 first-round women's basketball win over Lincoln (Pa.) Monday in the first day of the CIAA Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena.

"It felt good to get our feet wet and get that first win," Shaw Head Coach Jacques Curtis said.

Liles, a 6-1 senior forward, led the Lady Bears (18-11 overall) with 21 points on 9 of 11 shooting and snatched 12 rebounds for her fifth straight double-double for the Lady Bears. Buford, a 6-1 senior forward, added 20 points and Williams, a 6-1 junior center, added 15 points for the Lady Bears, the No. 2 seed in the Southern Division. The Lady Bears square off against No. 3 Northern Division seed Virginia State Tuesday in a CIAA quarterfinal game at 3 p.m.

2011 CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament Scoreboard

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Lincoln coach has tall task ahead of him

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — When John Hill was hired as the new head men's basketball coach at Lincoln University on Sept. 20th, he was well aware of most of the immediate challenges, which are significant.

With the season opener less than eight weeks away, Hill had a mountain of work to do and very little time to get it all done. He also knew that the program is completing the transition from Division III to Division II, and is beginning its first season as a member of a conference in nearly a half century. And to complicate matters, Hill is at the epicenter of the fallout resulting from NCAA violations within the program that occurred under his predecessor, Garfield Yuille.

Lincoln Men: Challenges await untested group

In a perfect world, the Lincoln men's basketball program would head into its first season as an active NCAA Division II and CIAA member with great stability among its players and coaching staff.

Instead, the Lions plunge into a new, more competitive era with a new coach -- hired less than two months ago — and with just five holdovers from last year's 4-22 squad. Much of the instability is the direct result of NCAA violations committed under previous head coach Garfield Yuille.

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Virginia State Trojans tame Lincoln (Pa.) Lions

ETTRICK, VA - It's a good thing the cannon at Rogers stadium fires blank rounds after every Virginia State University touchdown. If actual cannon balls were required, there may not have been enough on hand Saturday as home team routed Lincoln 42-0 in a CIAA matchup.

The Trojans defense fired a blank of their own, claiming their first shutout of the year by forcing five turnovers and limiting the Lions to 225 yards of total offense.
VSU senior Laquentin Milo got things started for the home team by picking off a pass from Lincoln quarterback Steven Torres. The 6-0, 220-pound linebacker returned it 29 yards to the Lions' 16-yard line, much to the delight of a rowdy homecoming crowd.

Image Gallery for Trojans tame Lions

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BSU Bulldogs Outlast LU Lions on Homecoming, 24-18

Despite a plethora of offensive errors, Bulldogs find way to finish.

The Bowie State University Bulldogs (4-4 overall, 4-1 CIAA) had to grind out a valuable homecoming victory against conference opponent Lincoln University of Pennsylvania (1-6 overall, 0-4 CIAA), 24-18. The victory came despite several turnovers on offense and not having a lead until early in the fourth quarter.

This game was not for the feint of heart. For all the ambiance of a homecoming game, it was a very scrappy affair marred with turnovers galore for both teams, but in the end Bowie State was able to make more big plays.

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Lincoln sets records in loss to Chowan

Needing to go 92 yards in less than a minute, Lincoln University maneuvered to the Chowan 40 before running out of time, a climactic ending to a record-setting football game at Garrison Stadium. The Lions broke multiple school marks, but penalties and turnovers proved costly as Chowan (2-2, 2-4) held on for a 30-27 CIAA win.

Quarterback Laquan Williams threw for 329 yards, besting the 304 set by Brandon Austin last year on Sep. 12 versus Southern Virginia. Matthew Coston set records in receiving yards (157), receptions (nine) and tied his own record with two touchdown grabs. Overall, Lincoln (0-3, 1-4) outgained the Hawks, 425 yards to 275, 413 of which came through the air.



Chowan Hangs on to Edge Lincoln
MURFREESBORO, N.C. - For the second week in a row the Chowan University football team held on to a late lead to score their second victory of the season. Tonight the Hawks notched a 30-27 win over Lincoln University (Pa) for their second CIAA win of the season. Tonight's win marks the first time since the 1999 season that Chowan has won back-to-back games. Lincoln's Laquan Williams put up big numbers for Lions with 329 yards passing but Chowan's back up quarterback, Ryan Simpson, led the Hawks to two scores in the second half that ultimately decided the game.

Chowan ran 84 plays for 275 total yards while the Lions put up 422 yards of total offense. Laquan Williams tossed four touchdowns for Lincoln, three of which went for more than 50 yards. He had touchdowns completions for 75, 71, and 63 yards on the night and hit two receivers for more than 100 yards.

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Last Week Highlights: Chowan vs. Virginia Union

Howard's Brice Has Career Day in Win over Lincoln

Charles Brice rushed for a career-high 161 yards and three touchdowns to lead Howard University to a 28-14 win over Lincoln University on Oct. 2. The win snapped an 11-game losing skid for Howard.

After both teams failed to score in the first quarter, Howard (1-4) took advantage of good field position and drove 50 yards in seven plays, with Brice sprinting 34 yards for the score at the 11:52 mark of the second quarter. Howard never looked back after that.

Brice, a 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pound red-shirt sophomore from Columbia, S.C., was making his first start after coming off a career-best 96 yards on 13 carries in a loss to Morgan State on September 25.

Howard Bison beat Lincoln for first win

Charles Brice ran for three second-quarter touchdowns, and Howard defeated Lincoln (Pa.), 28-14, on Saturday at Greene Stadium.

Brice, who finished with 161 yards on 31 carries, had scores of 34 and 12 yards before putting the Bison up 21-0 on a one-yard run with 20 seconds remaining until halftime.

The Division II Lions (1-4) answered with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Ivan Mitchell to Anthony Wilson at the end of the half.

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Lincoln vs. Howard: A Rivalry Revisited

WASHINGTON, DC - This is a non-conference game between the Lions of Lincoln University from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) against the Bison of Howard University from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The Lions (1-3 overall, 0-2 in) are coming off a 52-21 home loss to Saint Augustine's this past Saturday while the Bison (0-4, 0-3 in the MEAC) dropped a 20-3 decision to Morgan State University this past Saturday in the New York Urban League Football Classic at the Meadowlands.

CLICK HERE for complete game notes

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VUU overcomes miscues to earn 55-31 win over Lincoln (Pa.)

Virginia Union first had to beat itself. After that, Lincoln went down easily as the Panthers claimed a victory in their home opener, 55-31 against the Lions. Quarterback Aris McGlone-English threw for five touchdowns and added another on the ground, finding a way to overcome an early stretch of penalties, miscues and even a punt where the team fielded only 10 players.

"We've just got to be smarter," coach Michael Bailey said. "Winning is good, but we need to learn to be more disciplined." Once they did, the Panthers showed that this year's edition is potent in the air, with McGlone-English finding his favorite target, Joseph Jean-Pierre, seven times for 80 yards and three TDs.

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Offense fails to fire as Cheyney falls to Lincoln

PHILADELPHIA, PA — For the second straight year, the heated rivalry between Lincoln and Cheyney universities took center stage on the football field.

The only difference from last year’s clash — the first following a 53-year hiatus — was that this time the Lions were making their historic Division II debut. Everything else about Lincoln’s defensive-minded 12-0 triumph Sunday at Northeast High School in Philadelphia was all too familiar.

The Lions made more than their share of mistakes, only managed to find the end zone once and were generally displeased with the margin of victory. But the Lincoln defense never allowed the hard-luck Wolves to build any kind of momentum. The Lions actually scored as many points (six) on defense as on offense thanks to three safeties.



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Lincoln excited to be an official Division II member

LOWER OXFORD, PA — The milestones keep coming for Lincoln University football. Dormant for 47 seasons, the program was reinstituted in 2008. Last fall, the Lions notched their first shutout since 1957, and it came against Livingstone, a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

When Lincoln opens the 2010 campaign on Sept. 5 against cross-county rival Cheyney, it will mark it's first as an active NCAA Division II program. And less then two weeks later, head coach O.J. Abanishe's squad will make its return as a full fledged member of the CIAA for the first time since dropping football in 1960.

"Now that we are Division II, we will be able to play for a conference championship and the guys will be able to play for weekly and postseason honors," said Abanishe, who sports a 4-16 mark through two seasons. "Our guys are really pleased about it.


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Coaches poll puts Lincoln University last in CIAA

The Lions, having transitioned to NCAA Division II, will begin their football season Sept. 5.

Lincoln University is projected to become the new cellar dweller of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In their first season back as full CIAA members, the Lions were picked to finish seventh in the seven-team Northern Division in the conference coaches' preseason poll. They also were picked to finish last overall in the 13-team league.

Fayetteville State was picked to win the conference championship and Southern Division title during Thursday's CIAA Media Day at Virginia State. Bowie State was selected to win the Northern title. In addition to being picked last, Lincoln didn't have a player named to the all-CIAA preseason team that was selected by the conference's coaches and sports information directors.

But . . . "We should definitely be able to compete with the majority of the teams in the conference," said Lincoln coach O.J. Abanishe, whose squad returns 19 starters - 10 defensive and nine offensive - from last season's 3-7 squad. This season has special meaning for the Lions.

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Lincoln University (PA) is moving up to Division II‎

Lincoln University approved for full NCAA Division II membership

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. — Lincoln University of Pennsylvania has been approved for active National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II membership effective September 1, 2010.

As a Division II member, Lincoln will be able to subscribe to the National Letter of Intent, apply for enhancement funds, and earn the right to compete for national championships. Additionally, the University becomes a voting member at the 2011 NCAA Convention.

Lincoln’s administration was notified of the move Friday, July 9, 2010 with a formal announcement expected from the NCAA on Tuesday once the NCAA liaisons return to the National Office.

“Developing our athletic program has been an extensive yet rewarding journey, and is an important component in achieving our institutional objectives for the academic and social development of our students,” said University President Ivory V. Nelson.

“With the University receiving full active membership as Division II coupled with our plans to upgrade our athletic facilities, our students can take advantage of a top tier athletic program. The requirements of the Division II Life in the Balance focus, where student athletes must excel in the classroom, on the field and in the community, exemplifies the primary reason for Lincoln University seeking Division II status. The Membership Committee’s approval has allowed us to achieve another momentous milestone in our history.”

The acceptance culminates Lincoln’s three-year transition from Division III to Division II. As active members, the Lions are able to petition the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (which Lincoln helped found in 1912) for membership. The CIAA is the nation's oldest Black athletic conference. The CIAA is entering its 99th year of existence.

“The conference is excited to welcome home one of our founding institutions,” said CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry. “Lincoln (PA) has a rich history, dedicated fan base and a prominent athletic program that will undoubtedly add to the continued success of the CIAA.”

The CIAA, which Lincoln has competed in heavily since the 2007-08 year, has 12 member schools as far north as Bowie State in Bowie, Md., and as far south as Fayetteville State in Fayetteville, N.C. With the

additions of Lincoln University and Winston-Salem State for the 2010-11 year, the conference split into northern and southern divisions in each of its sports except for baseball.

Lincoln Director of Athletics Dianthia Ford-Kee welcomes a full return to the conference she was familiar with for so long. She played basketball and softball at Fayetteville State and spent 18 years as a coach and administrator at Shaw University, located in Raleigh, N.C. She arrived at Lincoln prior to the 2008-09 season and is eager to begin her third year at the helm of the department.

“This is a great moment in Lincoln University’s rich athletic history,” said Ford-Kee. “I am proud to have played a part in this transition. My staff and I are excited about the opportunities that our student-athletes will embark upon as an active NCAA Division II member and as well as the official return to the CIAA. Many thanks to the NCAA DII Membership Committee and its representatives for the guidance and support provided throughout the transition.”

The conference affiliation is the Lions’ first since 1992-93 when they were a part of the Eastern States Athletic Conference in Division III, which included institutions such as Salisbury (Md.), Allentown (now DeSales), Frostburg State (Md.) and Shenandoah (Va.).

Men and women’s soccer will compete in Division II as an independent, as the CIAA does not sponsor those sports.

Office of Sports Information
Lincoln University ∙ 15710 Baltimore Pike ∙ Lincoln University, PA 19352

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Lincoln University Lions 2010 Football Schedule

LU football schedule released

Sep. 5 Cheyney University of Pa. Philadelphia, Pa. 3 p.m.
Sep. 11 University of New Haven New Haven, Conn. 1 p.m.
Sep. 18 Virginia Union University Richmond, Va. 1 p.m.
Sep. 25 Saint Augustine’s College West Grove, Pa. 1 p.m.
Oct. 2 Howard University (Division I-AA) Washington, D.C. 1 p.m.
Oct. 9 Chowan University Murfreesboro, N.C. 6 p.m.
Oct. 16 Bowie State University Bowie, Md. 1 p.m.
Oct. 23 Virginia State University Petersburg, Va. 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 Saint Paul’s College West Grove, Pa. 1 p.m.
Nov. 6 Elizabeth City State West Grove, Pa. 1 p.m.

CIAA: Run on the Right Track‎

Maybe it’s time to reassess the pecking order in black college sports. I know most of us will argue until we’re blue in the face that it should be what I refer to as the “barber shop sports” of football and basketball. Those are the games folks talk about at the shop, as in, “My team is gonna stomp your alma mater, and we’ll smoke your band at halftime, too.” It makes for animated debates, but HBCUs, don’t produce hoops and football national champions, let alone a consistent pipeline of NBA or NFL talent any more. Track and field does.

Saint Augustine’s College dominated the sprints to claim the NCAA Division II men’s track and field title last week at Johnson C. Smith University, the 31st national title in the school’s history. “The kids were on point,” Falcons head coach George Williams said. “Everything was just so smooth. We didn’t give up anything. I got good performance from all my kids. You don’t win championships with one guy, you win championships with everybody.”

That’s why black college track and field has been able to hold its own since southern white colleges were desegregated in the late 1960s while blue-chip football and basketball players opted for pro farm clubs in the ACC, SEC and Pac-10. Saint Augustine’s is the platinum standard and can hang with the best of Division I, but the Falcons have company. Lincoln University (Mo.) is a Division II national power; Lincoln University(Pa.) is one of the best programs in Division III and joins the CIAA next year. That league will be loaded, to say the least, with St. Aug’s and JCSU on the upswing.

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