"Battle of the Lincolns" kicks off tonight

Last week's season opener didn't go according to plan for Lincoln coach Steven Smith in his head-coaching debut.

The first half was a struggle. The second half was an improvement.

"We were not paying attention to detail," Smith said of Lincoln's 30-14 loss at Langston. "Our quarterback didn't do what we asked him to do, he didn't play the way we asked him to play. He was trying to look for the long ball, holding the ball, and he ended up taking four sacks that shouldn't have been taken. That's just unacceptable.

"In the second half, he called the same plays, he actually did what we asked him to do."

Lincoln trailed 20-0 at the break, then outscored Langston in the second half.

Smith would like to see more of the second half in tonight's home opener against the Lincoln (Pa.) Lions, the second annual "Battle of the Lincolns." Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

"The key is going to be how bad to they want it?" Smith said. "Coaches can only go so far, we don't put on a helmet or shoulder pads. It's about them being disciplined and what they can get done. How bad do you want to win? How bad to you want success? That's the key."

After missing the season opener with a shoulder sprain, Eugene Sainterling with start at quarterback in place of backup Henry Ogala, Smith announced Friday after practice.

Lincoln (Pa.) also dropped its season opener 56-28 last Saturday at Cheyney. The Lions trailed 56-0 at halftime.

In the first half, Lincoln (Pa.) was unsuccessful on its 10 offensive possessions, punting just twice. The Lions had three turnovers on downs, lost two fumbles and threw one interception. Meanwhile, Cheyney scored touchdowns on eight of its nine possession in the first 30 minutes.

"Cheyney put their twos in in the second half," Smith said. "The one thing you have to take away is we can't play down to anyone's level. We have to make sure we play our game, and that's the discipline, that's the adversity of the game."

The Lions are led by senior running back Rameses Owens had 77 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

"He's a big kid, long with power," Smith said of Owens, who is 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds. "He brings that thump when he runs the ball. We have to be able to bring the thump when we tackle him."

Junior quarterback Vincent Espinoza, who replaced starter Justin White five minutes into the game, completed 11-of-19 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown.

"They're a spread offense," Smith said. "They're going to run the ball zone read, they're going to throw the ball, they're going to put the ball downfield a little bit.

"They're going to take what the defense gives them. We just have to make sure we don't give them anything."

Defensively, the Lions are led by junior linebacker Deion Miller, who made the All-CIAA second team last season. Miller had a team-high nine tackles.

Smith said the Lions will run a 4-3 defense.

"They're going to run some different coverages," Smith said. "They're going to play fast at the linebacker position. Their D-line is gong to slant and maneuver and move around a lot.

"We have to be prepared for that in our run game and be able to pass off different twists. I think we have a handle on what we need to get done, it's just all about executing on Saturday."

Lincoln (Pa.) turned a pair of fumble recoveries into touchdowns in the second half against Cheyney.

"We just have to be disciplined in what we're doing, and we have to be stout and more dominant than them," Smith said. "We have to start fast, accelerate in the middle and we have to finish strong."

III

In last season's inaugural meeting between the two Lincolns, Lincoln (Pa.) overcame a 17-0 first-half deficit to win 33-23 in Chester County, Pa. Like Lincoln (Mo.), Lincoln (Pa.) also a new head coach this season. Reginald Byarse Jr. was named the Lions' interim head coach May 1. Byarse Jr., 29, is the youngest head coach in NCAA Division II. Tonight is Lincoln (Mo.)'s first night game in four decades. Since reviving its program in 2008, Lincoln (Pa.) is 0-7 in nighttime road games. The Blue Tigers are seeking to win their first home opener since 2011. Smith is attempting to become the third-straight Lincoln (Mo.) head coach to win in his first home game. Mike Jones and the Blue Tigers beat Avila 35-3 in 2011, while interim head coach Lee Johnson won his debut 12-9 last season against Lane. Lincoln will also be debuting a new artificial turf playing surface tonight at Reed Stadium. "The bells and whistles they've added - the scoreboard, sound system, coaches office, locker rooms - everything looks great," Smith said. Former Lincoln defensive tackle Davon Walls, who was first-team All-GLVC in 2014, made his first career start Aug. 31 with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Walls had three tackles and one sack.