Lions Football Starts Off Hot

The Lions have more wins this season than the past three seasons combined

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Will Denio, Lion's Roar Editor

 It has been a few years since the words Lincoln football and success have been used in the same sentence. Before their home opener win against Johnston, it had been three seasons since the Lions last won a league game. The Lions lack of success seemed never ending, losing 11 games straight, but this year’s group made a point to turn the program in the right direction. It was time for a change.

     This year’s squad came in determined to flip the program and make Lincoln football a force to be reckoned with. Throughout the years, the Lions have struggled as an organization to maintain a strong and winning reputation. With the promise seen in this year’s young team, the tides seem to be turning and it won’t be long until the Lions are back on the map. 

     The team started the season promising, competing and winning against talented programs such as East and Providence, and Ponagansett in preseason scrimmages. Throughout the preseason work, the team prepared for the annual injury fund game against Cumberland. The game was neck and neck throughout the third quarter, but the Lions eventually fell to the Clippers in a 19-13 loss. Even though the team suffered a loss, it proved that they could hang with anyone, as Cumberland is a well renowned division two team and the game did not go towards either team’s record. 

     In the Lions’ first real test they went up against a strong Johnston team, the first of the Lions’ five home matchups. Similarly to the Cumberland game, the squads went back and forth within the first half, until a motivating halftime speech delivered by Coach Douglas Watters gave the Lions the drive to pull away from the Panthers. The game ended with Lincoln fans chanting, “Start the buses!¨ as the home team concluded the game in a blowout fashion, winning 40-14. 

     On September 16, the squad got prepared for their first league game against North Smithfield/Mount Saint Charles. For the second week in a row the Lions were at Ferguson field in front of a packed home crowd. It was evident from the first snap that the Lions were the better team in this matchup, as superb defense and a solid offensive scheme led to a 33-7 victory over the Northmen. 

     The Lions next matchup was a trip to Providence to take on the Classical Purple. A daunting task, as the Classical squad is filtered with talent including Abdoulie Fadia a 6´6, 290 pound tackle committed to play football at the University of Rhode Island. The game started out in the Lions favor as they went ahead by two touchdowns within the first thirty seconds of the game, putting them up 14-0. The momentum kept on rolling, eventually leading to a 42-6 victory. 

     Lincoln is starting to make a name for themselves in division three, and have made a case to be in championship contention. The squad poses a serious threat and are bound to keep turning heads and making noise. The Lions next game, dedicated to veterans and current members of the U.S. Armed Forces, is a home matchup against Tolman High School, this Friday at 6 p.m. Go Lions!