DRAGONS INVADE BLUE TIGERS JUNGLE
The Blue Tigers football team begins the quest for their first winning season since 1972 when they host Lane College (Jackson, Tenn.) on August 26 at 2:00 p.m. in Dwight T. Reed Stadium. The non-conference action is the season opener for both teams and is the fourth time the schools have played each other since Lincoln University returned to varsity competition in 2000.
Lincoln University leads the brief series of games 2-1 over Lane College. In the most recent meeting between the Blue Tigers and Dragons, Lincoln University prevailed 22-13 (Sept. 20, 2003) at Rothrock Stadium in Jackson, Tenn. The 2002 game was won by the Blue Tigers in Dwight T. Reed Stadium 23-6 (Sept., 9, 2002). The Blue Tigers return to varsity competition was spoiled by the Dragons, who gained a narrow victory on their home field 14-6 (Sept., 2, 2000). The game originally scheduled for Sept. 15, 2001 was cancelled due to the traumatic events surrounding the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, N.Y. on Sept. 11, 2001.
The 2006 Blue Tiger football team will look vastly different from the 2005 edition. Gone from the 2-7 season of last fall are several starters on both sides of the ball. What awaits Blue Tiger fans this season are several new faces in important places. The Lincoln University football team must build an offensive line for a new quarterback and the defense needs to replace starters along the interior of their defensive line and add to their secondary. After spring practices in which the Blue Tigers did not field enough student-athletes for a spring game, the coaching staff continued to scour recruiting trails in search of talented student-athletes needed to compete in NCAA Division II and the Great Lakes Football Conference.
A daunting task stares head coach Lemar Parrish in the face as he begins to put his stamp on the Blue Tiger football program. The Blue Tiger football team is loaded with underclassmen, 84 percent of the roster are either freshmen (39) or sophomores (10). The lack of leadership from the upperclassmen must be absorbed by the minute class of juniors (4) and seniors (5). Looking to seize a massive share of the responsibility that comes with that leadership role are seniors Roderick Cooksey (FB, 6-2, 263, San Diego, Calif., 3.9 yards-per-rush, 2 TD), Devin Palmer (WR, 5-9, 179, St. Louis, Mo., 9.5 yards-per-reception, 2 TD), DeWitt Johnson (WR, 6-2, 208, St. Louis, Mo., 12.4 ypr, 3 TD) and Gerardo Cornejo (K/P/PK, 5-10, 175, Bellflower, Calif.). Cornejo booted a season long 47-yard field goal in 2005. He averaged 33.5 yards-per-punt with a long of 56 yards, in which eight kicks were downed inside the 20-yard line. Cornejo kickoffs went an average of 52.4 yards with three touchbacks. Brandon Kendrick (OL, 6-1, 311, Kansas City, Mo.) returns to the team after obtaining a medical redshirt in 2005.
A handful of returners will help make an instant impact for an offense which averaged a paltry 7.9 points-per-game in 2005. Sophomores Eddie Pertilla (WR, 6-3, 192, West Palm Beach, Fla.), Tyler Victor (TE, 6-4, 215, Salem, Mo.) and Darius Graham (WR, 6-0, 181, St. Charles, Mo.)
should give Donald Brown (Fr., QB, 6-3, 173, Fort Pierce, Fla.) more options to throw to. After playing as a defensive back in 2005, Stanley Goodwin (So., 6-2, 193, St. Louis, Mo.) has moved to offense as a tight end/wide receiver.
The nucleus of the Blue Tigers starting defense from 2005 has moved on, but Clourse Hardy and Dana Chambers are back to patrol the field. Hardy (Jr., LB, 5-10, 226, Oakland, Calif.) notched 23 tackles a season ago, including five for a combined loss of 25 yards. He also made two sacks totaling 15 lost yards. Chambers (Jr., LB, 5-11, 211, Fulton, Mo.) recorded 21.5 tackles in 2005 with 4.5 tackles for 31 yards lost and three sacks for 29 yards lost. DeJurnae Parrish (So., LB, 6-0, 216, Boynton Beach, Fla.) a part-time starter in 2005, has won a starting linebacker spot in fall camp. An injury to Terrence O’Neal (So., DE, 6-0, 221, Boynton Beach, Fla.) in 2005 cut his season short, but he has recovered and claimed a starting defensive end position. Jay Toliver (So., DE, 6-0, 205, Denver, Colo.) is listed as No. 2 on the depth chart behind O’Neal. Bilal Ladd (So., FS, 5-11, 192, St. Louis, Mo.) the lone returning member of the 2005 secondary is trying to crack the two-deep depth chart and receive playing time.
The upcoming game would appear to favor the Blue Tigers based upon a quick glance at the 0-10 overall record (0-9 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) mark of Lane College and their 10th place selection in the 2006 SIAC preseason poll. In that 2005 season, the first for head coach Johnnie Cole, three of the 10 defeats were by a combined 21 points, included in that figure is an overtime three-point defeat.
The Lane College roster is dotted with experienced dangerous weapons prepared to move up in the SIAC. Back to lead the fire-breathing Dragons offense is Sherard Ellis. Ellis (So., QB, 6-2, 195, Missouri City, Texas) was the 2005 SIAC Freshman of the Year. In 2005, Ellis finished the season ranked No. 89 in NCAA Division II, No. 6 SIAC in passing efficiency (110.2) and was No. 18 in total offense, No. 2 SIAC (279.1 yards-per-game). Ellis, who connected on 49.5 percent (146 completions- 295 attempts- 18 interceptions) of his passes in 2005, threw for 326 yards (409 yards total offense) and three touchdowns in a loss at Fort Valley State and racked up 400 yards (105 rush, 295 pass) in a home defeat at the hands of Morehouse.
The intended beneficiaries of the Dragons aerial assault are many beginning with big target wide receivers, being mentioned as possible third round selections in the April 2007 NFL Draft. Seniors Jacoby Jones (Sr., 6-4, 210, New Orleans, La.) brings speed to his receiving and return abilities, while Edward Williams (Sr., 6-4 215, Montgomery, Ala.) is a physical possession receiver. Jones, who was No. 12 in NCAA DII and led the SIAC with 175.3 all-purpose yards in 2005, was a 2005 All-SIAC first team honoree as a punt (9.6 ypr, No. 53 NCAA DII) and kick return (22.2 yards-per-return, No. 60 NCAA DII) man and a second team wide receiver pick (50 receptions, 11.7 ypr, 58.7 yards-per-game). He pulled in five receptions per game in 2005 (No. 55 in NCAA DII). Williams, a transfer from Alabama State (Montgomery, Ala.) recorded 42 receptions and averaged 15 ypr and 62.9 ypg (No. 95 NCAA DII) on his way to being named All-SIAC second team as a wide receiver.
Also proving valuable to the Dragons are Marcus Moore and Virgil Union. Moore (Sr., TE, 6-2, 250, Hempstead, Texas) caught 23 passes and averaged 9.9 ypr in 2005 to earn All-SIAC first team accolades. V. Union (Sr. WR, 5-11, 195, St. Louis, Mo.) nabbed 24 passes in 2005 for averages of 17.1 ypr and 51.2 ypg.
Williams (WR), Jones (WR/KR/PR) and Moore (WR) were selected first team members to the 2006 Preseason SIAC All-Conference team by the SIAC Football Coaches Association. V. Union (WR) was named to the second team of the 2006 Preseason SIAC All-Conference team.
Jones and Moore were selected to the 2006 Black Sports Network Preseason All-America
second team, which was released in early August.
Aiming to elevate a defense that gave the opposition 359.2 yards of total offense in 2005 is the Dragon duo of Anthony Jones II and Harvey Scott. Jones II (Sr., DE, 6-1, 240, Richmond, Calif.)
moves from linebacker to defensive end in 2006. Last season, Jones II had 67 tackles (42 solo-25 assisted, 6.7 tackles-per-game), which tied for No. 17 in the SIAC. Scott (Jr., DB, 6-3, 220, Detroit, Mich.) was No. 28 in the SIAC with 46 tackles (35 s-11 a, 5.8 tpg) and also made one sack. The 4.4 solo tackles-per-game by Scott ranked him No. 99 in NCAA DII.
The special teams are spurred by the leg of Justin Miranda. Miranda (Sr., K, 5-9, 170, Lancaster, Calif.) averaged 35.7 yards-per-punt with a 2005 season long of 77 yards. He was 16-of-19 (84.2 percent) on Point-After-Touchdown attempts and 7-11 (63.6 percent) on Field Goal Attempts.
Johnny Hampton, (So., DL, 6-1, 280) who hails from Jefferson City, Mo. is listed on the roster for Lane College.
The Blue Tigers will be the first mid-Missouri team to kick off the 2006 season as they host Lane College of Jackson, Tenn. at 2:00 p.m. on August 26 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. Lincoln University is 1-5 in season openers since varsity football returned in 2000. The lone win in that six-year span was the 10-0 victory on August 27, 2005 over Central (Wilberforce, Ohio) State in the 2nd Annual Kansas Black Expo and Frank C. Sabatini Capitol City (Topeka, Kan.) Freedom Classic. The win over the Marauders was the first for head coach Lemar Parrish. The Blue Tigers are 0-1 in home openers since 2000; the only home game was a 63-7 defeat at the hands of Central Missouri State University on August 31, 2002.
GAME ONE RECAP - BLUE TIGERS DROP OPENER
Lincoln University lost their season opener 36-0 to Lane College on August 26. The 36 point defeat is the Blue Tigers biggest home opening loss since the Mules of Central Missouri State University won 63-7 in Dwight T. Reed Stadium, August 31, 2002. The Dragons rolled up 450 yards of total offense, while the Blue Tigers mustered 56. The Lincoln University defense did intercept three passes and make two quarterback sacks. CMSU comes to town for a 2:00 pm game on Sept. 2 in Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
