New faces. Same result.
The Lincoln football team looked as dominant and last year’s undefeated city championship club in a 28–6 season-opening victory over Tottenville in a rematch of season’s Public School Athletic League title game under the lights in Coney Island on Sept. 5.
The new Railsplitters squad, which lost 14 seniors, led 20–0 early in the second quarter behind the play of its offensive line, first-year starting quarterback Paul Litvak, and Holy Cross transfer running back Prince Klutsey.
“We worked hard all summer, all spring,” Klutsey said. “We knew this day was going to come and we got the outcome that we wanted.”
Lincoln’s offense played up-tempo as usual, but there is a more physical nature to this year’s squad. The line pushed Tottenville’s front around all night. The 5-foot-10, 215-pound Litvak and the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Klutsey weren’t afraid to run over defenders — and carry them a few extra years if need be. Lincoln coach Shawn O’Connor joked that he needs to teach Litvak how to slide. It was all part of Lincoln dictating the game’s pace from start to finish.
“I want it to be known as a physical offense, but I also want it to be known as an offense that can take it to the air,” Litvak said.
He did a little bit of both and set the tone early. Litvak carried the ball 11 times for 68 yards and two touchdowns, and completed five of nine passes for 118 yards. He showed he was more than capable of replacing last year’s All-Brooklyn Player of the Year Javon Moore.
“I’m not really filling in shoes,” Litvak said. “I’m making my own shoes. I just want to go out there and prove myself.”
Some of his teammates did that also. Klutsey ran for 76 yards on 12 carries, including a five-yard scoring run in the third quarter. Backup quarterback Roget O’Neill added 55 yards on the ground and a score. Receiver Luis Rodriguez posted more than 100 yards of total offense. Lincoln rushed for more than 200 yards as a team.
The Railsplitters went 75 yards on seven plays for a score on its opening drive and led 14–0 late in the first quarter thanks to scoring runs by O’Neill and Klutsey. Lincoln took control of the contest when Jordan Nicholson recovered a fumbled punt on the Tottenville 44-yard line heading in to the second quarter. Four plays later, Litvak powered into the end zone to help make it 20–0. It was the third time in the last three meetings that the Railsplitters took that lead against the Pirates. This time, however, they did not let them back into the contest.
“I was really happy and impressed that our guys this year colud hold on with that,” O’Connor said.
Amid the good feelings, its looks like Lincoln will lose senior linebacker Dionte Flemming for the near future, after he suffered what appeared to be a concussion in the third quarter, according to O’Connor. He was taken away in an ambulance as the game was drawing to a close. Tottenville’s Kadeki Kelly hit him underneath the back of the helmet.
The Pirates’ lone score came when quarterback Joshua Rainey connected with Ralen Hunter for a 55-yard touchdown pass to make it 28–6 with 7:02 left in the third quarter. Rainey was just three of 12 passes for 79 yards because he was given little time to throw thanks to Lincoln’s defensive line. Kelly and Romello Martin each recorded sacks.
It was all part of a stellar showing for this group of Railsplitters, but the players are already looking ahead.
“Today was a great day,” Klutsey said. “Offensive did good, defense did good. We got 12 more to go.”
