Lions' run ends in N2,G1 final

Lincoln, New Providence

Lincoln's David Rivers (middle) is wrapped up by a pair of New Providence defenders.

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By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director

EAST RUTHERFORD – In what had been a storybook season for the Lincoln Lions, a 21-8 loss to New Providence in the NJSIAA North 2, Group I title game was not the fairytale ending they had in mind.

With the loss of 26 seniors from the squad, some may feel that yesterday’s defeat at the New Meadowlands Stadium marked the end of an era of resurgence at Lincoln. Many of the core pieces from a Lions squad which has made the state playoffs three-straight years will have to be replaced, but to head coach Robert Hampton the final chapter of this story has yet to be written.

“It’s been a beautiful ride and it’s not over,” said Hampton, quick to point out he has 37 players returning for 2011. “I don’t think the book’s been closed on Lincoln High School in terms of where we’re going to be. I think we’re going to make history.”

This year’s team made plenty of history in its own right, becoming the first Jersey City public school to reach a sectional final since 1981. While it is something they are proud of, it doesn’t diminish the disappointment of coming one game short of their ultimate goal.

“I really don’t know what to feel right now,” senior QB/CB Ronald Butler said. “I just know I’m hurting.”

Butler was on the receiving end of several big shots from an aggressive New Providence defense. Employing a five-man defensive front, the Pioneers sacked Butler six times and stifled a high-powered Lincoln offense.

“We knew we had to put pressure on them,” New Providence defensive lineman Zach Troutman said. “In films no team had been able to do that, but with our defense we made that an emphasis. If we were able to stop (Butler) we were good.”

“I was really impressed with their tenacity,” Hampton said. “They weren’t going to let us do what we wanted to do.”

After struggling to get a rhythm for most of the game, the Lions (9-3) offense recovered in the fourth quarter and seemed poised for a comeback.

Trailing 21-0 Deshawn Goodwin, put sixth-seeded Lincoln on the scoreboard with a 9-yard touchdown run with 8:53 left in the game. The Lions defense forced the top-seeded Pioneers (11-1) into a three-and-out to regain possession and Butler was starting to create havoc after being contained for most of the afternoon.

Butler connected on consecutive first down passes to Kashawn Fuller and Anthony Jackson. Then the senior signal caller escaped a potential sack for a 13-yard run.

With the ball on the New Providence 25, Butler scrambled away from a group of Pioneer defenders and after backing himself all the way to midfield he raced down the right side before being forced out of bounds inside the 10-yard line. But an illegal block in the back penalty erased the play, virtually crushing the drive and comeback attempt.

“We thought we had momentum,” Butler said. “We were driving and that penalty just stopped us.”

A holding call, two passes and a sack gave Lincoln an unmanageable 4th-and-38 situation as a 28-yard completion from Butler to Fuller wasn’t enough to prevent a turnover on downs.

“I was nervous because they were starting to get a little momentum going,” Pioneers head coach Frank Bottone said. “That’s when I started looking at the clock.”

The failed drive was one of three Lincoln had in which they moved the ball to within the New Providence 30-yard-line without any points to show for it.

The most damaging of those drives came late in the first quarter. The Lions drove down to the Pioneers 24 behind a 56-yard run from Butler. New Providence’s David Barletta swiftly reversed the momentum with an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown to break the scoreless tie and give his team a lead it would never relinquish.

The Pioneers added to their lead with a rushing score from Vinny Fuschetto in the second quarter and a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jack Cole to P.J. Vigilante.

Fuschetto finished with 137 yards on 21 carries as the Pioneers sent out the retiring Bottone out with his sixth career sectional title. The 79-year-old Bottone, the only coach in New Providence’s history, finishes his 46-year career with 334 wins, the fourth most in state history.

“I was concerned they were going to send Mr. Bottone out like a warrior and they did,” said Hampton.

Goodwin led Lincoln with 105 rushing yards on 12 carries. Butler had 13 carries for 68 yards and completed 9-of-23 passes for 119 yards.

Deshawn Goodwin, Lincoln

Deshawn Goodwin rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown in the second half.

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Lincoln Lions (9-3)	0	0	0	8	8
New Providence Pioneers (11-1)	7	7	7	0	21

NP: David Barletta, 87 interception return (Robby Fay kick)
NP: Vinny Fuschetto, 6 run (Fay kick)
NP: P.J. Vigilante, 34 pass from Jack Cole (Fay kick)
Lin: Deshawn Goodwin, 9 run (Anthony Jackson pass from Ronald Butler)