Lincoln football hits the road to face Texas Permian Basin

Lincoln players listen to a coach during a recent practice at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
Lincoln players listen to a coach during a recent practice at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

The Lincoln football team has appreciated every opportunity to practice at Dwight T. Reed Stadium the past two weeks.

After all, it's something they weren't able to do for the three weeks leading up to the Blue Tigers' season-opening 87-3 loss Feb. 19 at Nicholls State.

With spring-like weather replacing the sub-zero temperatures since the opener, Lincoln coach Malik Hoskins feels his team will be prepared much better for today's 1 p.m. kickoff at Texas Permian Basin.

"That's what a lot of people don't understand," Hoskins said. "They don't understand the dynamics of everything that we went into before we traveled to Nicholls State. Three weeks of practicing in the gym and not being able to get on the field because of the weather, the snow.

"And then a lot of people don't know that it was a 17-hour bus drive for our guys. We got there at 9 p.m. (the night before the game), and there was only time enough to eat dinner and go to bed. We were right back up the following morning, trying to find a place to find a walk-through. That was a chore within itself."

Factor in the Blue Tigers were playing the eighth-ranked FCS team in the country - Nicholls won last weekend 55-0 against fellow FCS member Lamar - and the variables were far from ideal for the Blue Tigers. But they don't regret taking the opportunity to play up a level.

"I thought it would be a good opportunity to market the program," Hoskins said. " I think I did a poor job of putting our guys in an opportunity to be successful. If I had to do it all over again, I don't think I would play a team of that caliber."

Lincoln committed six turnovers in the loss, and Nicholls scored touchdowns off all six turnovers.

"It started to go south once the turnovers started," Hoskins said. "We couldn't overcome the turnovers."

It was a long bus ride back to Jefferson City, but shortly after the Blue Tigers returned, the snow melted and the team was able to practice on the football field for the first time in weeks.

"They're more resilient than I thought," Hoskins said. "I thought they would shut it down. But we've had some really good practices. We haven't been consistent, like putting good days back-to-back, but they haven't shut it down. They're competing, and I have seen a good improvement in our guys.

"And we're confident going into this game."

This is just the fifth season of football for Texas Permian Basin, a Division II program which was 2-9 in each of its first three seasons and 4-7 in 2019.

"Texas Permian Basin is a good football team, it's an up-and-coming program," Hoskins said. "We looked at their film from last year and thought this is a team that resembles us. And then you see them play this past weekend, and the film is totally different. They've changed personnel, they've changed some schemes. They're a very good football team."

The Falcons won their spring season opener last Saturday, defeating Southern Nazarene 33-14.

Redshirt junior quarterback Clayton Roberts tied a program single-game record with four passing touchdowns. He completed 9-of-23 passes for 171 yards against Southern Nazarene.

Roberts was also the team's leading rusher with 12 carries for 101 yards.

"He's a dual-threat quarterback and it's hard to get a beat on him because they do so much with their fly sweeps and a whole lot of eye candy," Hoskins said. "If you get caught up in that eye candy, he can be out the back door and in the end zone before you know it."

Wide receiver MJ Link led the Falcons with four catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns last weekend. Roberts accounted for a majority of the team's rushing yards, as running back Taj Crenshaw was next with eight carries for 29 yards.

Defensively, Hoskins has concerns with Texas Permian Basin's front line.

"They have three guys on the defensive line that are really freaking good," he said. "They are stout. They're going to average 6-foot-2, 290 pounds up front."

Defensive back D'Ondre Robinson had a pair of interceptions in the opener for the Falcons, returning them for 31 and 88 yards. Linebacker Miquon Mayes had a team-high 12 tackles, including three for losses.

"Their defense is comprised of a bunch of juniors and seniors," Hoskins said. "They have a bunch of guys that have been there and done that. I don't think there's anything we can throw at them that they haven't seen. We just have to execute and do what we do well."

What Lincoln has done well since the start of the 2019 season is run the football. Of Lincoln's 110 yards of offense against Nicholls, 90 yards were running the ball.

Tori Hicks had a team-high 71 yards, adding a 30-yard carry late in the game, and Hosea Franklin - who led the MIAA in rushing yards in 2019 - added 32 yards on the ground, including a 28-yard run in the first half.

"Tori and Hosea are going to carry the load," Hoskins said. "I understand these (spring) games don't mean a lot, as far as wins and losses are concerned. I'm trying to do my to protect the guys I know we're going to be counting on in the fall, but you want to put a good product on the field."

Hoskins will an emphasis on his team having success early in possessions. While the Blue Tigers gained 3-5 yards on first downs a handful of times against Nicholls, they often were unable to pick up the remaining 5-7 yards on the next two downs. Lincoln was just 4-of-17 on third-down conversions in the season opener and totaled just six first downs.

"One of my biggest things is winning on first down," Hoskins said. "If you get 5 yards or more on first down, you've won, you're ahead of the sticks. You have to win first down in order to put yourself in a better position on second and third down."

Notes: Lincoln center Cyril Spells did not play against Nicholls, but Hoskins expects the 6-1, 271-pound senior to start today. Linebacker Charles Robertson suffered a concussion in the season opener and was in concussion protocol this week. He will be a game-time decision. Quarterback Josh Cartwright is battling a high ankle sprain. Hoskins said Cartwright will travel with the team, but is doubtful to play, which would lead to Desmond Hunter starting behind center. Franklin left in the first half with a knee injury against Nicholls, but returned to play in the second half. He is expected to start against Texas Permian Basin.