The Lincoln High School football team rolls on. After defeating Marist last weekend 38-6, the Lions are now an astounding 6-0, the latest a Lincoln football team has been undefeated since 1973. Back then, the Lions, led by All-County players like Bobby Morgan , Tony Samuel (currently the head coach at Southeast Missouri State) and Glen Corbin, went undefeated for the season.
The Lions all know that they are carrying the bull’s-eye of being an undefeated team as they head to Hoboken this weekend to possibly create another slice of history.
“We’re like Atlas carrying the world on our shoulders right now,” said Lincoln head football coach Robert Hampton. “We know everyone is out to get us, but that’s good. We’re Lions. We can take it. This is a giddy bunch of kids. I haven’t had to motivate them at all.”
However, if they need some motivation, then here’s an item for them. Lincoln has not defeated Hoboken since the 1990 season.
“That’s before any of them were even born,” said Hampton, who will bring his team to the Mile Square City to experience a little “Friday Night Lights” this weekend. “They have a chance to make history.”
Hampton is not worried about any let down.
“This is not like two years ago, when they thought they were better than what they were,” Hampton said. “This is a lineman-driven team. They know what’s at stake and know that the linemen are leading the way.”
But so is senior quarterback Lamar McKnight, who is having a sensational season. McKnight has already passed for 640 yards and seven touchdowns, while rushing for 300 yards and scored five touchdowns.
“I can’t say enough about what Lamar is doing,” Hampton said. “He’s matured so much and knows what the offense is all about. He’s not trying to throw rockets through people anymore. He’s taken over this team and serves as the calming influence to everyone, including the coaches as well. He has a complete understanding of the spread offense and that makes him dangerous. I said before the season that if we could get 1,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing from Lamar, then we would be fine. He’s well on his way.”
And for that matter, so are the Lions…
Hudson County’s only other undefeated football team is Secaucus. At 5-0, the powerful Patriots are rolling through the opposition, averaging an astounding 47 points per game. The Patriots scored 50 for the second straight week last week, defeating Bogota, 50-27.
And this is a team that lost a lot of its key offensive personnel from a year ago due to graduation, but they appear to be more offensively balanced this year, thanks to the solid 1-2 running attack of Joey Impreveduto and Eddie Delgado.
In recent years, the Patriots generally had just one go-to back, but this season, you can’t determine one over the other, as both Impreveduto and Delgado have rushed for 100 or more yards in each of the last three games.
“We’ve always tried to spread the ball,” Secaucus head coach Charlie Voorhees said. “But they are pounding away and they’re both very good football players. You can’t pick one guy over the other.”
The last time the Patriots had two go-to quality kids? Try 2000 with Tommy Warth and Mike Gerbasio. It’s been a while.
Voorhees said that he’s not surprised with the Patriots’ offensive explosion.
“We knew that Impreveduto and Delgado were very good backs and now they’re a year older, faster and stronger,” Voorhees said. “They came together nicely.”…
Hudson Reporter Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (4-1). 2. Lincoln (6-0). 3. Secaucus (5-0). 4. North Bergen (4-2). 5. Ferris (3-3)….
Here’s the NJSIAA state playoff update: There are seven teams left with aspirations, but some are holding on by a thread.
North Bergen is currently in seventh place in the North Section 1, Group IV. The Bruins also have a tough game this week against five-time defending Group III state champ Wayne Hills, then a game against 2-4 West Milford that may decide the Bruins’ fate. They could get in at 4-4, because most of the teams in the bracket are right around .500, but a win over West Milford would more than likely get the Bruins back into the playoffs.
Secaucus is in fine shape in North Section 2, Group I with 65 points, trailing only Cedar Grove. The Patriots would clinch the top seed if they defeat Becton and St. Mary’s over the next two weeks, but that’s saying a lot. Hoboken is hanging on for dear life in the same section in 10th place. The Red Wings desperately need a win over Lincoln this weekend.
On the other hand, Lincoln is solidly in second place in North Section 2, Group II, trailing only Summit. The Lions are looking to secure a home game in the playoffs, which would the program’s first home state playoff game since 1987.
Ferris is once again in a playoff pickle. Currently ninth in North Section 2, Group III, the 3-3 Bulldogs need wins against Lakeland (4-2) and Paramus (3-2) the next two weeks. Not an easy task.
St. Anthony is currently fourth in Non-Public Group 1 and has games against Hudson Catholic and Snyder. One win clinches the school’s first-ever state playoff berth.
St. Peter’s Prep is sixth in Non-Public Group 4. They will nail down a playoff berth with a win this weekend against St. Joseph of Montvale. It’s a matchup of the No. 2 team (St. Joseph) and No. 4 team (Prep) in New Jersey…
In closing, prayers and well wishes go out to Hudson County’s resident baseball guru Ed “The Faa” Ford, who is hospitalized but improving daily. “The Faa,” a long-time friend and colleague, had everyone a tad afraid last week when he was doing poorly. In fact, there were rumors of his passing that went out over the Internet, much like Kanye West and Zach Braff. But much like the other two celebrities, Hudson County’s resident celebrity and icon is still with us and making strides towards a recovery. Get well soon, Faa…. – Jim Hague
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