Butler leads Lions past Wings

Ronald Butler, Lincoln

Lincoln's Ronald Butler threw for two touchdowns and ran for two scores.

Click Here for more photos from Hoboken at Lincoln.

By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director

JERSEY CITY – Coming off of his team’s first loss of the season, Lincoln head coach Robert Hampton could sense a breakout game was coming for QB Ronald Butler. The senior responded with a performance that exceeded even his coach’s expectations.

Butler had what might have been the best game of his career as he finished with nearly 400 total yards and four touchdowns in an electrifying performance as the Lions overcame an early 18-point deficit to stun Hoboken 42-18 yesterday at Caven Point.

“I knew he was going have a breakout game after the St. Anthony game because he took it so personally,” said Hampton, calling Butler’s game an All-State performance. “He tried to put the team on his back.”

“Ronald just busted (everything up) in this game,” running back Tyron Stevens said. “I told him you’ve got to take the game over.”

After a disastrous first half which saw Lincoln (5-1) down 18-0 midway through the second quarter, Butler took complete control of the game. Just two plays after a touchdown by Jason Montalvo of the Red Wings (5-1), Butler responded with a 65-yard scamper touchdown to re-energize his squad.

“At 18-0 everybody started to put their heads down and Ronald just busted (that run),” Stevens said. “Everybody woke up.”

“It’s about perseverance and dedication,” Butler said. “We’re going to go all four quarters.”

Following a defensive stop, Butler and the Lions would strike again before halftime. He raced 61 yards down the left sideline to set up a 1-yard scoring run from Deshawn Goodwin with 48.3 seconds left in the half to make it 18-14 heading into the intermission.

In the second half, Butler reminded the Hoboken defense he was more than just a runner. Butler and Goodwin put Lincoln up for good when they teamed up on a 68-yard scoring strike with 2:24 left in the third.

Butler, who is in his first full season as the starting quarterback, took to the air once more to open the fourth quarter. He found Anthony Jackson, who made a leaping catch at around midfield and went the distance for a 76-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the period.

“After my two touchdowns I said to myself now I’ve the hang of it at quarterback,” said Butler, a standout wide receiver before this season. “From this day forward, I’m going to play like a real quarterback.”

Butler would ice the game six minutes later when he capped off a 12-play, 60-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run to make it 36-18 with just 5:08 left in the contest.

In what he called the best game of his career, Butler finished with 398 all-purpose yards. He rushed for 13 carries for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Through the air, Butler completed 7-of-10 passes for 191 yards and two scores. He also had nine yards on returns.

Goodwin was on the receiving end of five of those completions, totaling 80 yards. He also had 35 yards rushing on seven carries. Jackson had two receptions for 108 yards and Stevens had 20 carries for 83 yards.

Deshawn Jackson and Kashawn Fuller had fourth-quarter interceptions as the Lions defense forced three turnovers and held Hoboken scoreless in the fourth quarter. Lincoln held the Red Wings to just 32 yards rushing in the second half, compared to 197 in the opening half of play.

Hoboken had built up the early 18-0 lead behind the trio of Montalvo, Delquan Groomes and Daquan Stewart.

Groomes followed up a goal line stand by the defense with an 84-yard touchdown run which made it 12-0 in favor of the Red Wings. The senior back/kick returner finished with a team-high 116 yards on six carries and added 35 more yards on returns.

Montalvo, in his first game back from a hamstring injury, had 78 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Stewart had 11 carries for 28 yards rushing and 56 yards on returns.

Both teams have big games coming up next weekend. The Lions will host North Bergen on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Caven Point. Immediately following that game, Hoboken will look to bounce back against undefeated St. Anthony at 7 p.m.

Delquan Groomes, Hoboken

Delquan Groomes had 116 yards rushing, including an 84-yard touchdown run

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Hoboken Red Wings (5-1)	6	12	0	0	18
Lincoln Lions (5-1)	0	14	8	20	42

Hob: Daquan Stewart, 10 run (kick failed)
Hob: Delquan Groomes, 84 run (pass failed)
Hob: Jason Montalvo, 1 run (run failed)
Lin: Ronald Butler, 65 run (Tyron Stevens run)
Lin: Deshawn Goodwin, 1 run (run failed)
Lin: Goodwin, 68 pass from Butler (David Rivers pass from Butler)
Lin: Anthony Jackson, 76 pass from Butler (run failed)
Lin: Butler, 10 run (Goodwin pass from Butler)
Lin: Terrell Wilkes, 24 run (run failed)