Mercado leads Geneva to 1st-round playoff win over Carmel
By most standards, Geneva tight end Lincoln Mercado had a solid junior season last year. But when he looked in the mirror, he felt something was lacking.
The numbers he put up helped him receive plenty of recruiting interest and even led to him committing to an NCAA Division II scholarship offer this summer from Bemidji State.
Still, Mercado’s self-assessment made him believe he could do even better — especially as a blocker — to become more of an all-around tight end.
“Last year, I would say I was almost a liability, unfortunately, not being able to block ends and linebackers at 240 pounds like I should,” Mercado said. “That was just not gonna slide. This year, I like my odds going up against those guys.
“I think I just took it more seriously. The team’s better when everyone does their 1/11th, regardless if you’re getting the ball or not. This summer I was like, ‘I’ve gotta come out here and block for my teammates so we can win some more games.’”
It appears to be mission accomplished for the 6-foot-2 Mercado, who added 10 pounds of muscle to his 250-pound frame and showed his progress Saturday night in the host Vikings’ 49-30 win over Carmel in a Class 6A first-round game.
Mercado may have flown under the radar a bit this season, but he’s on the rise and did his part for Geneva (9-1) against the Corsairs (4-7) by catching three passes for 58 yards and touchdowns covering 20 and 23 that — along with his improved blocking — were key in the win.
Eastern Michigan-bound senior quarterback Ben Peterson completed 14 of 21 passes for 257 yards and four TDs for Vikings, who will host DuKane Conference rival Wheaton North (7-3) in next weekend’s second round.
Besides the two TD tosses to Mercado, Peterson also threw a pair of TD passes to senior wideout Bennett Konkey, one of them going for 63 yards on the second play of the game. The Illinois recruit finished with five receptions for 127 yards.
Senior running back Nelson Wendell added 81 yards and two TDs, while senior defensive back Tate Beran returned an interception 28 yards for a TD on a night that belonged to Mercado.
“Lincoln is a tremendous receiver in the passing game, even though his stats don’t show that as much,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said. “He’s just so valuable to us. He has soft hands, runs good routes and he’s hard to bring down in the open field.
“Then you add in the layer he added to his game this season, which is his blocking and being that versatile athlete we really need in our offense. I’m proud of that kid. He’s playing really great football.”
Last season, Mercado ended up with 26 receptions for 272 yards and six TD as the Vikings were hurt by key injuries, went 4-5 and missed the playoffs.
“We are very healthy this year,” Peterson said. “Bennett (Konkey) was banged up and it kept us from getting him the ball a lot, so Lincoln was always a safety net for me last year.
“Since Bennett is doing so well this year, Lincoln is seeing fewer targets, but he’s been very active in the blocking game.”
Defensively, Geneva put up enough of a road block to keep at bay Carmel’s Reed Dangel, a senior quarterback who completed 25 of 39 passes for 253 yards.
Because Geneva’s coaches stress “block and you get the rock,” Peterson pointed out that Mercado’s targets are on the rise.
“If we get him the ball in space, I feel like it’s good for 10 yards every time,” Peterson said.
His work Saturday lifted Mercado’s totals this fall to 23 catches for 250 yards and four TDs.
“I stroll with a few groups on the team,” he said. “I play fullback, too. I’m a receiver and lineman because of the blocking a tight end is supposed to do. That’s what impressed the Bemidji coaches.
“They like my versatility and I like their appreciation of that.”