It has been four years since Lincoln has won a football game in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
The Blue Tigers see no better time than now to snap that 29-game losing skid in today's conference opener against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
"I believe in my team, I think we have a chance to do everything we need to do and what we've been working hard for," Lincoln coach Steven Smith said. "Right now, we just have to play sound and be convinced that we can win the game."
Lincoln (1-2) is coming off a 17-7 loss to Wisconsin-Oshkosh last Saturday that made Smith shake up a few things in practice this week.
"We did a whole day of third downs and two days of red zone (offense)," he said. "That's what we're focusing on, third downs and red zone."
Lincoln scored on just 1-of-3 chances in the red zone, as UW-Oshkosh blocked a pair of field-goal attempts. The Titans were 3-for-3 in the red zone with two touchdowns and a field goal.
"We need to capitalize when we're in the red zone," Smith said. "If we capitalize in the red zone, we win that game."
The Blue Tigers were also 6-of-15 on third-down conversions in the loss, and half of those conversions came on their lone touchdown drive.
Lincoln is hoping for a complete game against Southwest Baptist (0-2), which is coming off a bye week."The great thing about it is we've seen the same type of team with Missouri State and Wisconsin-Oshkosh," Smith said. "They're going to be a four-down team, they play a lot of good defense."
The Bearcats have struggled on offense, falling 49-7 to Houston Baptist and 34-9 to Mississippi College to open the season. Today will be their third straight road game to start the season.
Southwest Baptist lost its starting quarterback and top three wide receivers from last season, when the Bearcats averaged 407 yards of offense. This season, they are averaging 252.5 yards in their two losses.
"They look like they play well, they're very disciplined like they've been before," Smith said. " Their personnel is different, they're just trying to gel together, and they haven't gotten there yet."
Dylan Mountain and Bryse Salik have split time at quarterback this season, but Mountain is listed as today's starter for the Bearcats.
Southwest Baptist is also young at the running back position. Redshirt freshman Eric Knight leads the team with 99 yards rushing. Senior Mario Lanier leads the receivers with four catches for 72 yards.
Smith said Southwest Baptist will use a spread offense as it has in the past.
The Bearcats have committed seven turnovers, five by interception. Smith said Lincoln just has to continue to play sound defense.
"The defense has played very well," Smith said. "We have to bend but don't break.
"If we can cut those explosion plays and wrap up on tackling, we'll be fine."
Defensively, the Bearcats are led by senior linebacker Tyler Curts, who was first team All-GLVC last season. This year, he leads Southwest Baptist with 26 total tackles.
But he isn't the player who stood out on film for Smith.
"The guy who stood out more to me is No. 45," Smith said, referencing junior defensive end De'shawn Tone. "He gets to the passer."
Smith said Southwest Baptist will run a four-man front led by Tone, who was second team All-GLVC last year.
Lincoln committed just one turnover last week and is facing a Bearcat team that has yet to force a turnover this season.
Mississippi College's wing-T offense produced 328 yards rushing against Southwest Baptist, while Houston Baptist spread out the Bearcats for 478 yards of offense.
"I'm hoping they give us the same lanes as they gave (Mississippi College)," Smith said. "I think my big boys up front have played well, they've proven themselves."
Lincoln will be without one offensive starter today, and perhaps more.
Smith said wide receiver A'Jani Johnson will miss today's game due to illness, and running back Hosea Franklin is listed as questionable. Johnson is the team's second-leading receiver and Franklin has accounted for 207 of Lincoln's 286 rushing yards.
Donovan Wright will start in Johnson's place, and Terry Hunter and Kimbo Ferguson will handle the workload in the backfield is Franklin is unable to play.
"We've got some other guys that are going to step up to the plate," said Smith, who added Franklyn Richardson is eligible to play today and will start at receiver.
III
Southwest Baptist holds the overall series lead at 9-1 against Lincoln. The Bearcats won 52-7 last season in Bolivar. Senior Brayden Byrd (Jefferson City High School), who was All-GLVC honorable mention last season, will start at center for the Bearcats. Senior cornerback Cory Hanger (South Callaway High School), who was first team All-GLVC last year, has played in both games this season for Southwest Baptist. Lincoln leads the GLVC in time of possession at 34:57. The Blue Tigers also rank second in scoring defense, allowing 25.3 points per game.
Related Media: Lincoln Blue Tigers Football Podcast [Southwest Baptist preview, Sept. 22, 2018]