At times last season, Lincoln Park showed throughout the season the ability to compete with virtually anyone in the Downriver League. Unfortunately, it only resulted in a 2-7 record and their eighth straight losing season.
The Railsplitters, however, could very well be in a position to contend for a playoff spot with a plethora of players returning from last year’s squad. That level of continuity has head coach Chad Bonmon encouraged about a potential big step forward this fall.
“We have a tight group,” Bonmon said. “This is the closest group We have had at Lincoln Park since I have been here.”
Now in his fifth season at the helm, Bonmon arguably has his most experienced team. In fact, it is a Lincoln Park team that seems virtually its entire starting defense return in 2024. And of the 10 returning starters, eight will also assuming starting roles on the offensive side of the ball.
Defensively, the focal point will be junior linebacker Logan Ferrell. A second-team all-News-Herald honoree a season ago, Ferrell as a sophom*ore in 2023 logged over 80 tackles against Downriver League opposition.
Ferrell will be flanked by fellow classmate Brandon Gray at that second level of the defense. Gray is one of the aforementioned multiple two-way players returning from last season as the junior figures to line up as an option out of the backfield.
It could very well be a 3-4 defensive scheme, at least on paper, with the likes of seniors Tyler Gibbs and Jamir King also expected to see time in the linebacking core. Gibbs should also flip around and be a viable pass-catching option at the tight end spot while King will join Gray as a potential ball-carrier.
Up front on defense, look for the senior trio of Sean Bailey, Isaiah Badder, and Julian Lopez to assume defensive lineman roles. Both Bailey and Badder will also see significant time on offense as the former will line up at tight end while the lanner will be a tackle at the line.
Most of the secondary is also already locked in with returning starters as seniors Javion Cornett-Tillman, Omari Harvey, and Archie McCornell-Cabiness assume three of the four starting roles. Cornett-Tillman proved to be a matchup problem for opposing offenses in 2023 after collecting close to 20 tackles while hauling in a pair of interceptions, earning third-team all-area honors in the process.
Like a lot of their teammates, that trio of defensive backs will also be Lincoln Park’s primary pass-catching options outside the numbers. Cornett-Tillman, in particular, showed big play potential as a junior a season ago, averaging over 30 yards per reception on 14 grabs.
In addition to the player personnel, there is a level of familiarity on the sidelines as well as Bonmon notes this will be the third straight season with the same coaching staff in place. That high level of communication figures to be important in addressing the Rails’ biggest weakness: turnovers. The folks in royal blue and orange committed 40 turnovers in their nine games a season ago.
Taking care of the football will be an added point of emphasis for a team that could be breaking in a new quarterback. Among the handful of potential big-impact newcomers for Lincoln Park, Bonmon lists sophom*ore signal-caller Corey Williams, who also is expected to line up in the defensive backfield as well.
Other newcomers who will see time early and often are a trio of junior linemen in Malik Saucedo-Walker, Santino Galvan, Edo Sol, and Jayden Ellsworth.
A tight-knit group of players and coaches keen on tightening up their play could make for a breakout season of sorts at Lincoln Park in 2024.
“They truly love each other and are very eager to change the narrative,” Bonmon said of his team. “We look to be very competitive in each game on our schedule.”
2024 Lincoln Park Football Schedule
(*denotes league game)
Week 1 | vs Dearborn Edsel Ford / August 29*
Week 2 | at Wyandotte Roosevelt / September 6*
Week 3 | vs Trenton / Sept 13*
Week 4 | at Allen Park / Sept 20*
Week 5 | vs Hamtramck / Sept 27
Week 6 | at Taylor High / October 4*
Week 7 | vs Southgate Anderson / Oct 11*
Week 8 | at Brownstown Woodhaven / Oct 18*
Week 9 | vs Gibraltar Carlson / Oct 25*
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