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Then, with the Cyclones appropriately wearing white uniforms, an
avalanche struck at Handlin Field.
"I've seen it way too many times. I've been on the receiving end,
I've scouted them and watched it happen," said Lincoln coach Jared Shaner.
"They're that good. "We put a nice drive together. It ends up being
6-6. And then before you know it, the game's snowballing away from
you and it's hard to catch up." SH-G rattled off 47 more
points before halftime, storming past the Railers for a 60-6 victory
on Lincoln's Senior Night.
Shaner classified the game as a bad end to, all things
considered, an OK season.
After going winless in 2009, the Railers finished 2010 with a 3-6
record.
The season gave Shaner hope for next year, while also leaving him
with a unique appreciation for this team's seven-man senior class.
"It's always hard to think like that at the end of a game like
this, but yes, we've definitely progressed from last year," said Shaner.
"I felt we got better offensively for the most part
throughout the season. Defensively, at times, we showed we were
better. "I'm very proud of our kids. We just walked off the field
with seven seniors. We have a very large junior class and hopefully
some sophomores that will grow up." In the aftermath of the game,
Shaner took some time to meet with his seniors. He expressed his
gratitude. "I just told them it's always an emotional thing for
seniors on this night. They ended their careers with seven guys,"
said Shaner. "I just wanted to make sure they knew how proud I was
of them and how special I think that makes them.
"There is -- I don't know how many boys in the senior class this
year -- but for whatever reason, they ended with seven. To me, that
says something about the character of those seven kids. A lot of
kids quit along the way and gave it up for whatever reason. These
kids stuck it out. That says a lot to me about the quality of them
as individuals."
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Players, like record-setting receiver Darvez Stancle, shared
their appreciation for their coaches as well. "Coach Shaner is
probably one of the best coaches I've ever met in my entire life,"
said Stancle. "I will always remember him and every other coach as
well. I'll never forget them." Lincoln quarterback James Leisinger
completed 7 of 18 passing attempts for 98 yards. Six of his
completions were to Stancle, who finished with 86 yards, including a
47-yard catch to set up the Railers' only score of the game. On
the ground, Jordan Sandrolini led Lincoln with 15 attempts for 83
yards and a touchdown. Senior Brendan Fitzsimmons had four attempts
for 13 yards.
As a team, the Railers rushed 50 times for 240 yards.
[By JUSTIN TIERNEY]
(Justin
Tierney's Railer
articles)
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