Geneva tight end Lincoln Mercado adds 10 pounds for 49-30 victory over Carmel

Geneva tight end Lincoln Mercado caught two touchdown passes and added 10 pounds of muscle to his frame to help the Vikings defeat Carmel 49-30 Saturday night.

The win secured a spot for the 9-1 Vikings in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs, where they will host Wheaton North. Mercado, a 6-foot-2 senior, finished the contest with three receptions for 58 yards. His scoring plays covered distances of 20 and 23 yards. The Corsairs fell to 4-7 in the loss.

Mercado focused on his blocking ability during the offseason after assessing his junior season. He noted that he previously felt like a liability when attempting to block defensive ends and linebackers who weighed 240 pounds. He stated that he took the process more seriously this summer to support his teammates. "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.

Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen credited Mercado's versatility for the team's success. Thorgesen said Mercado has soft hands, runs good routes, and is difficult to tackle in the open field. The coach emphasized that Mercado's new blocking skills added a necessary layer to the offense. "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," Thorgesen said.

Senior quarterback Ben Peterson, who committed to Eastern Michigan, threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns on 14 of 21 completions. Peterson also connected with senior wideout Bennett Konkey for two scores, including a 63-yard pass on the second play of the game. Konkey finished with five catches for 127 yards. Senior running back Nelson Wendell rushed for 81 yards and two scores. Senior defensive back Tate Beran returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown.

Last season, Geneva finished 4-5 and missed the playoffs due to key injuries. Mercado recorded 26 receptions for 272 yards and six touchdowns in that campaign. Peterson noted that the team is healthier this year, which has changed the passing dynamics. "Since Bennett is doing so well this year, Lincoln is seeing fewer targets, but he's been very active in the blocking game," Peterson said.

Carmel quarterback Reed Dangel completed 25 of 39 passes for 253 yards in the defeat. Geneva's defensive pressure limited the Corsairs' offense throughout the game. Mercado's performance has raised his season totals to 23 catches for 250 yards and four touchdowns. He also serves as a fullback and plays in multiple offensive groups.

Mercado committed to Bemidji State University this summer for an NCAA Division II scholarship. He said the Bemidji coaches were impressed by his ability to function as both a receiver and a lineman. "They like my versatility and I like their appreciation of that," Mercado said.