Lincoln's improvement on offense from its season opener to Saturday's home opener was like the difference between day and night.
That was fitting, considering the Blue Tigers were hosting their first night game at Dwight T. Reed Stadium since the 1970s.
Lincoln (Mo.) put together 442 yards of total offense, including 265 yards rushing, and bulldozed its way past the Lincoln (Pa.) Lions 49-19 for Steven Smith's first career head-coaching win.
"It feels good," Smith said. "But like I tell the guys, enjoy the moment. When the moment's over, that's part of being significant. Being significant means enjoy the journey, and when they journey's over, let's move to the next journey, which is Quincy."
Smith is the third-straight Lincoln head coach to win his home debut. Mike Jones and the Blue Tigers beat Avila 35-3 in 2011, while interim head coach Lee Johnson won his debut 12-9 against Lane last season.
Lincoln took advantage of prime field position throughout the game, starting in Lions territory on seven offensive possessions, including its first three of the game.
Harold Lacy scored on the Blue Tigers' opening possession with a 5-yard run into the end zone. Wolky Belancourt added the first of his six extra-point kicks to give Lincoln (Mo.) a 7-0 lead with 10:36 left in the opening quarter.
Lacy, a true freshman, finished the game with 28 carries for 133 yards. He is the first Blue Tiger to rush for more than 100 yards in a game since Will Randolph gained 131 yards on the ground in last season's meeting at Lincoln (Pa.).
Travis Martin added 94 yards on 12 carries for the Blue Tigers, gaining 86 of those yards in the second half.
"The O-line came to play," Smith said. "The running backs came to play. They wanted to show what they can do. For us, it sets a presence going into conference next week."
Eugene Sainterling, who started at quarterback Saturday after missing the season opener with a shoulder sprain, followed with a pair of touchdown throws to Blake Tibbs, each for 8 yards.
Tibbs caught the first pass as he was running to the left edge of the end zone late in the first quarter. The second score was caught in the back left corner of the end zone with 9:33 to go in the second quarter, giving Lincoln (Mo.) a 21-0 lead.
Tibbs finished with a team-high 77 yards on six catches. Sainterling completed 15-of-26 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Lincoln (Pa.) got on the board with a pair of passing touchdowns later in the second quarter. Andre Price had a 24-yard reception and Carlos Croslin caught a 26-yard pass with 5:41 left in the half.
Belancourt missed three field goals in the game, including an 18-yard attempt just before halftime, with Lincoln (Mo.) holding on for a 21-13 lead at the break.
The Blue Tigers tacked on five points to their lead in the third quarter. Edwin Durassaint tackled Lions running back Justin Johnson in the end zone for a safety and Belancourt drilled a 27-yard field goal with 6:08 left in the quarter to extend the lead to 26-13.
In the fourth quarter, Miles Drummond caught his second touchdown pass of the season, a 9-yard strike from Sainterling. Drummond had 84 total yards of offense - 43 yards receiving, 41 yards rushing.
Lincoln (Mo.) special teams accounted for the Blue Tigers' next nine points. Aaron Brown blocked a punt and Cody Alexander (Blair Oaks High School) recovered the loose ball in the end zone for his first collegiate touchdown.
Fifteen seconds later, after Lincoln (Pa.) scored on a 66-yard pass to Elijah Smith, the Blue Tigers' Amani Nelson recovered a muffed snap on the extra-point attempt and returned it to the other end zone for two points. The Blue Tigers led 42-19 with 10:30 to play.
Lacy capped the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 30 points with 4:04 to play.
The Blue Tigers dominated in time of possession, controlling the ball for 44:32 of 60 minutes.
Lincoln (Pa.) (0-2) finished with 0 net yards rushing on 22 carries and added 182 yards passing. In addition to having a muffed punt attempt and two blocked punts, the Lions opted to punt three times on third down Saturday.
"That was something that threw me off too," Smith said of Lincoln (Pa.) punting on third down. "It was fine. If that's what they want to do and play a little Canadian Football, I'll take it."
Lincoln (Mo.) (1-1) opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play Saturday at Quincy (1-1). Kickoff is at 6 p.m.