LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (November 3, 2008) -- Despite its 23-20 loss, there were many bright spots in Lincoln University’s final game of the season against CIAA foe Saint Paul’s College at Avon Grove High School on Saturday.
One could look at the fourth quarter that showed a young Lions squad coming back from 17 points, the six forced fumbles by the defense led by freshman environmental science major Brandon McElwee (Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester City) and business major Bruce-Lee Sterile (Miami, FL/North Miami Beach), along with the explosive plays from sophomore Andre Crier (Lake Ridge, VA/ Woodbridge), freshman physical education major Trey Thomas (Canton, GA/Woodstock), and freshman business management major D’Ante Smith (Bowie, MD/Riverdale Baptist).
Smith spearheaded the exciting afternoon by helping Lincoln strike first with his 17-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. It was the second time this season, Lincoln scored first. Smith was not finished, as he helped spark a comeback from a 23-6 deficit in the third quarter with his second score off of a trick play. Smith was the recipient of a 29-yard pass from Crier off a reverse.
“It was real frustrating,” Smith said. “The defense caused a lot of fumbles (six recovered). The offense, we were moving the ball and we had them on the ropes. We just could not finish out the job.”
It’s this defeat that shows just how far the team has come and the raw potential that it has. The Lions showed a spirit of desire and intensity that they have displayed all year in their first football season since 1960. By competing with a good Saint Paul’s team (5-5, 3-4 CIAA), Smith believe he and his teammates have something to build on. It is exactly this kind of performance a team can use as motivation for the off-season when they are running those sprints, lifting in the weight room, and working on routes with the quarterback.
“It changes the whole mind set because the way we played, we feel as though if we would have just did a few more little things, we could have beat them,” explains Smith. “It shows us that we can actually play in the conference.”
By facing tough teams such as Virginia Union, Shaw, Bowie State, and Virginia State, it can’t be overlooked the invaluable lessons learned as Lincoln saw what it took to play in the CIAA and what they need to improve upon.
“This season we saw how the CIAA was,” Smith said. “How fast the game is, how bigger the other teams are. So this off-season we are all going to hit the weight room and run a lot of sprints. So we’re going to be prepared for next year.”
In his first year of college football, Smith had a productive season. Smith rushed for 210 yards and one touchdown on 59 rushing attempts. He also proved to be just as effective out of the backfield and catching balls. He totaled for 28 receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns.
It’s very easy for a young player to get distracted by their good play and not work as hard. However, Smith was his own toughest critic. He was not totally happy with his performance in the 2008 season. It’s this mentality that will push not only him, but his teammates as well as they prepare for the off-season.
“I would grade myself as a C minus,” says Smith. “I could have done a lot of things better. I found myself dropping a couple of passes, missing a couple blocks, but I also did some things well. But, I’m going to get there. Next season, hopefully I’ll bring that grade up.”
One critical area that the dynamic running back knows that he and his teammates need to work on is strength. All year long, the coaching staff was asking a team of 18 and 19 year old kids to face grown men in their 20s. Of course there will be a disparity in physicality. With eight months before they hit the field again in August, Smith is looking forward to getting real acquainted with the weight room.
Smith says that he is looking to gain about 20-25 pounds to add to his 5-8 and 205 pound frame by next fall. This is an attainable goal with the work ethic of Smith, who is animated when talking about putting on weight and increasing his strength. For a player like Smith who relies on speed, quickness, and energy, he has to be careful to not put so much on that it will slow him down on the field.
“I’m looking forward to it because I need to gain a lot of weight,” Smith said.. “I’m still going to be running everyday. I know you put on weight and it kind of slows you down.”
After a good career at Riverdale Baptist, Smith said that the whole package that Lincoln had to offer attracted him to the school.
“Lincoln offered me the opportunity to play college football,” Smith said. “When I checked out the school, I saw its historical background and the academic excellence it has. I knew it was a good fit.”
When Smith played his first collegiate game, it was clear that he was not playing at Riverdale anymore. In high school, he could run for a 70-yard touchdown every game. In college, those runs were harder to come by because of the upgrade in competition.
“Everyone is fast,” says Smith. “In high school, I have to worry about one or two people, but in college the linebackers are just as fast as the safeties and the safeties hit just as hard as the linebackers. Sometimes the defensive linemen move pretty fast. They get me in the backfield and I might make somebody miss, but someone else is right there.”
A business management major, Smith hopes to one day develop his own training facility and become a coach. He hopes to one day teach the next great Barry Sanders, whom he credits as his favorite sports figure.
For now, Smith has business to take care of right here on Lincoln’s campus. He has his sights set on being an All-CIAA conference player and adding a conference championship to Lincoln’s trophy case. Lincoln can go nowhere but up and things are certainly looking that way.
With four seniors departing, Coach O.J. Abanishe and his coaching staff will have a full cast of familiar faces to work with. Another year in his system and another year of experience under their belt, there should be a marked improvement for the Lions team. Smith is counting on a more exciting season on both sides of the ball in the 2009 season.
“With everyone returning, we’re going to gain so much with all those that could not play this year, freshmen recruits, and the transfers,” Smith explains. “They are going to add to more success that we are going to have. We can expect big things, a better record then this year. From an offensive standpoint, you can expect more points. From a defensive standpoint, you can expect more interceptions, more fumbles, as you saw Saturday (six recovered). Overall, our game is going to be a lot better next year.”
If Saturday’s game was a preview of what is to come next fall, Smith may just be right. CIAA foes beware, Lincoln football is on the upswing.
--LU--