Lincoln High School head football coach Robert Hampton doesn’t want to dwell on what happened in the past, even though the last three years have been very fruitful for the Jersey City program.
“It’s done,” said Hampton, when asked about the Lions’ fine 2010 season that ended with the school’s first-ever trip to the Meadowlands to play in the NJSIAA North Section 2, Group I state championship game.
“It’s over,” Hampton reiterated. “We don’t even think of that. We don’t even talk about the whole thing. We do have some relatives from last year’s team on this year’s team, like brothers and cousins. But that’s it. With this year’s team, they want to have the chance to create their own history. They’ve even come up with their own thing. They’re Lion Nation. We have a young and energetic team.”
Hampton also has a tremendous sense of pride in the 2011 Lions.
“We have a lot of players who are members of the National Honor Society,” Hampton said. “We have a lot of good students. That’s why they want their own identity. They want to remain the premier Jersey City public school. If we make it this year, it would be our fourth straight trip to the playoffs and no other Jersey City public school has ever done that before.”
The Lions, 9-3 a year ago, lost a ton of talented players to graduation, including three – quarterback Ronald Butler, running back Ty Stevens, and defensive back Robert Goodwin – who were members of the Hudson Reporter All-Area team a year ago.
Butler and Stevens were three-year starters and offensively, they combined to collect more than 4,500 total yards and 35 touchdowns last year. That’s a huge loss.
“You don’t replace the 4,000-plus yards and the touchdowns,” Hampton said. “You don’t even try to. We’re going to do everything by committee this year and have a bunch of kids involved. We might not match the manpower we had last year, but we’ll be fine.”
Leading the way is junior quarterback Isiah Roberts (5-8, 175), who has enjoyed a fine preseason.
“He has tremendous shoes to fill, but he has watched the two quarterbacks before him and learned so much,” said Hampton, referring to All-Area signal callers Lamar McKnight and Butler. “He’s going to be able to run the ball well and pass it well. He has a strong arm and he’s a tough kid. He’s also a very smart kid and a good leader.”
The top running back will be senior Earl Lawton (5-8, 170), who saw limited action last year. Hampton is excited about Lawton’s breakaway abilities.
“We haven’t had anyone with that kind of speed since I have been the coach,” Hampton said. “He runs away from people.”
Another running back is senior Theodore Spann (5-7, 175), who not only is a solid player, but he’s a great student. Spann has a chance to be the Lincoln Class of 2012 valedictorian and he’s being looked at by Ivy League schools.
“He’s a complete warrior,” Hampton said. “He’s a brilliant kid.”
Another running back is sophomore Tyrik Darby (5-7, 165), who plays a little bit of everywhere for the Lions.
“He can play running back, quarterback, wide receiver,” Hampton said. “He does everything.”
Much like his older brother, Aaron, who was an All-Area performer for the Lions a few years ago.
Another in the mix in the backfield is junior Quaseir Hopkins (5-10, 165), who is a former amateur boxer.
“He’s tough and quick,” Hampton said. “We have to find someone to replace Ty. It may take as many as four players to replace him.”
Senior Samad Sessions (6-6, 210) is at one receiver slot and he resembles new Jet and former Giant pass catcher Plaxico Burress so much that he even dons Burress’ uniform number (17). Senior Deshawn Jackson (6-2, 180), one of the rare holdovers from last year who started last year in the secondary, is another pass catcher, as is junior Steven Jones (6-2, 195).
Senior Devin Nicholas (6-3, 185) is the tight end.
The offensive line features a host of newcomers, with only junior Jeremiah Peguero (6-0, 245) returning as a starter, but Peguero has been moved from guard to center this season.
The tackles are senior Mike Mbong (6-2, 210) and senior Ishmael Samuel (6-0, 220). Junior Marquise Jackson (5-10, 270) and talented and promising freshman Daisjon Robinson (6-2, 285).
Defensively, the Lions will go with Sessions and Nicholas at defensive end, with sophomore Orlando Romero (5-11, 205) and Samuel getting time there as well.
The defensive tackles are Robinson and Jackson, with Mbong and sophomore Jayvon Saunders (5-11, 305) also in the mix there.
The middle linebacker is returning starter Peguero, with Markese Jackson, senior Marquis Staggers (6-0, 185) and senior Willie Rivera (5-7, 175) manning the outside linebacker slots.
Jones, Spann, Darby are sharing cornerback duties with Deshawn Jackson returning to the safety slot where he dominated a year ago.
Hampton likes the makeup of his team.
“I think the word to describe this team is gritty and gutsy,” Hampton said. “They’re disciplined and work hard. No one could ever say that about a Lincoln football team before. It’s a compliment to this group. I’m optimistic about this team based on their attitudes. They’re not a dominant team by any means, but they’re gutsy and I like that. This team has a lot of character. If that character means anything on the football field, we’ll be okay.”
The Lions were slated to open play this weekend against Jersey City rival Ferris. –Jim Hague,/b>
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.