NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- After leading the McCann Tech football team to some of the biggest wins in school history last season, Nick Lincoln on Saturday took a few steps backward ... but only in the most literal sense.
Lincoln moved from under center to running back and thrived in the new role, rushing more than 100 yards from scrimmage in a 40-20 win over Pioneer Valley in the Hornets' home opener.
The converted quarterback scored two touchdowns and made two sacks at linebacker as McCann Tech improved to 2-0.
Lincoln said the position change did not really change his role with the team.
"It's a different view of the field," he said.
"As a leader, I'm still in here. I'm helping out the new guys. I'm still a leader. But I'm just stepping back and getting the ball more. Not a big change."
The McCann coaching staff made the switch after the season opener. It was a move necessitated by injuries as much as anything, including the season-ending knee injury to returning senior running back Eathan Heller.
"We sat down Monday after the JV game and after looking at film said ... it wasn't panicking or anything like that, but we needed to do something," McCann caoch Bob LeClair said. "We're moving too many people around with what we had if we left Nick at quarterback. It was the easiest transition to move him to fullback.
"Mike [Ferrara] goes to quarterback. Corbin [Richardson] stays at wing. Dakota [Bolte] was our split end, but he played so well at tailback -- he went in at tailback against Mahar at the jambroree and then he played tailback last week against Palmer. And then with Keigan [Case] coming back, it made it easier for us to do it."
Ferrara, a sophomore, scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run and put the ball in the air twice without a completion in his debut.
The 20-point final margin was actually closer than the game itself. McCann led, 40-0, midway through the fourth quarter, and Pioneer Valley (1-1) did mostof its damage against the Hornets' second unit.
McCann's starting defense held the Panthers to just one first down (by penalty) until late in the third quarter.
LeClair said his defense took a step forward from last week's season opener at Palmer.
"The defense played very, very well," he said. "Another week of reps and the work we put in this week, it showed today. I'm pleased with the effort."
Lincoln pleased the home crowd with a back-to-back sacks late in the third to put Pioneer in a third-and-24, but that was when Panthers' senior quarterback Zach Lambert hooked up with Bryce Dobosz for a 46-yard completion and the visitors' first TD.
The McCann offense did its damage on the ground. Bolte ran for 98 yards, including a 44-yard TD. Richardson rushed for 54 yards and a score. Lincoln finished with 113 yards on the ground.
McCann travels to Ware on Friday night.
