The Lincoln Lions secured a key homecoming victory on October 17th, defeating Coventry 37-15 in a game that snapped a three-game losing streak and helped move them back toward playoff contention. The win brings Lincoln’s record to 2-4 and marks one of their most complete performances of the season.
Senior player Scott Nicoll spoke about the significance of the victory.
“Winning as a senior on homecoming is something you’ll remember for the rest of your life,” Nicoll said. “That added with the fact that it was a win that put us back into playoff contention made it extra special.”
Coming into the game, Lincoln was riding a tough three-game losing streak, dropping their record to 1-4 after several close but frustrating losses. In many of those games the Lions have shown strong starts but struggled to finish, often falling due to small mistakes and missed opportunities. The pressure was growing, especially with homecoming bringing extra energy and expectations from the school and community.
“We felt like our work was finally starting to show,” Nicoll said. “Dropping to a record of 1-4 isn’t a good feeling, and it was made worse by the fact that we were losing because of small mistakes. We proved to ourselves that we could put it all together and that has definitely given us energy going into this week.”
Coventry scored first with a TD in the first quarter, but then Lincoln’s offense came alive, responding with 37 straight points.
In the second quarter senior running back Carson Mellon broke free for a 41-yard touchdown to extend the lead, showcasing the momentum shift. Minutes later, Mellen struck again with another explosive 51-yard touchdown run, continuing to wear down Coventry’s defense.
Mellen wasn’t finished. He also returned a kickoff 82 yards, electrifying the homecoming crowd and setting up another scoring opportunity. He closed out the night with a standout performance, 14 carries for 174 yards and two touchdowns, one of his best outings of the season.
Quarterback Scott Nicoll and tight end Jarett O’Hagan played major roles on both sides of the ball, with the two hooking up for a touchdown.
“After we played a great first half, one of our main messages in the locker room was to keep our foot on the gas. We had been ahead halftime in some of our losses, so we knew that the only way to win was by playing a complete game.”
Lincoln will travel to face South Kingstown next week in a crucial matchup that could further impact their push back toward playoff contention. With momentum now in their favor and confidence restored after breaking their losing streak, the Lions look to carry their energy and execution on the road. A win at SKHS would move Lincoln another step closer to climbing back into the playoff picture.
