April 14, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- By definition, you're guaranteed to win your own scrimmage.

And lose it.

But invariably, one side of the football is pretty good, the other, not so much. On this day, one side of the football was really good, the other, well ... really not.

The defense dominated the day at the Lincoln Blue Tigers annual spring scrimmage, as it manhandled the offense 32-16 using a specialized scoring system Saturday at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

The effort left defensive coordinator Phil Pitts all smiles.

"The competitiveness this spring has been awesome, on both sides of the ball," Pitts said. "We won the scrimmage today, but the offense has had days when they've had the better of it.

"I am really happy where this group is --- I'm ecstatic, I'm fired up to take this team into battle. They are light years ahead of where we were a year ago."

Head coach Steve Smith knows as much.

"I saw the defense do some really, really good things today," the second-year coach said. "I thought they were very aggressive, I thought they were physical."

The offense had less than 130 total yards and didn't score until there were four minutes left, when Kimbo Ferguson broke free around right end for a 50-yard touchdown run.

"Our run game showed a little bit, but I want it to be a lot better," Smith said. "I want the whole offense to be more consistent and efficient, that's not what I'm getting right now."

The passing game was basically non-existent, completing just 4-of-14 passes. The only completion on a throw down field came on the last play of the game, as the others were short dump-offs.

There was a reason for this, Smith said.

"We've been throwing the ball really well this spring, but coach (offensive coordinator Malik) Hoskins said he wanted to run the ball. He was worried about that more than anything."

Will Sewell forced a fumble that was recovered by Karl Evans Jr., which was certainly a good a sign. Because last season, the Blue Tigers were minus-21 in turnover margin, which ranked second-to-last in the nation for the 168 Division II schools, including zero interceptions.

"We've talked about that a lot," Pitts said. "We've got to force takeaways, we've got to make plays, we've got to give our offense some short fields. If we do those things, that will help the other side of the ball."

Offensively last year, the Blue Tigers ranked 158th in rushing offense and 162nd in total offense. So it's difficult to say which was better Saturday --- or which was worse --- the defense or the offense.

Pitts firmly believes it's the former, noting great strides by several players.

"On the defensive line, (junior) Ja'Juan Chambers (Rock Bridge) has had a phenomenal spring," Pitts said. "And (junior) Tui Houston is the kind of player who allows us to be very multiple, because he can play defensive end or linebacker."

Pitts also noted the impressive springs of senior linebackers Edwin Durassaint, Amani Nelson and Victor Williams, "who are making plays and leading this group;" and junior cornerback Chavon Gross and sophomore corner Steven Henderson.

There are better days ahead, Pitts said, after last year's 1-9 campaign.

"Last fall, we didn't see the wins," he said. "But the steps and strides we made behind the scenes --- were talking about guys going to school (33 players have GPAs 3.0 or higher), mending relationships with high schools in our area --- those kind of steps had to happen off the field, first."

Now, it's back to strength and conditioning for the next few months, before the fall practices start in August. Lincoln's 2018 season --- which includes a Thursday night game at Missouri State --- starts Sept. 1 at Lane College.

"I can't wait, I really can't wait," Smith said. "We're all in, all or nothing."

Loeffler's Link

Entering second year,

LU's Smith optimistic

Lincoln running back Kimbo Ferguson (4) tries to use a stiff-arm to avoid the tackle of cornerback Chavon Gross during Saturday's scrimmage at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. The stiff-arm didn't work, as Gross dropped Ferguson for an eight-yard loss.

Pitts pleased: Defense rules the
day at Blue Tigers' scrimmage