 Then there are upset victories.Then there are upset victories on
homecoming.
Then there are upset victories on homecoming that are won in the
final seconds -- which is what the Lincoln Railers got on Friday
night, shocking Springfield High 28-21.
It was the kind of win for the football program that will be
talked about for years -- a truly historic triumph.
"We'll remember this for the rest of our lives," summarized
elated Railer senior and Homecoming King Conner Schmidt.
The win wasn't secured until the final minute.
With the score tied at 21, Springfield elected to go for it on a
fourth down at midfield. Senator quarterback Brinton Wilkey's pass
was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Lincoln defensive lineman
Austin Brummett, giving the ball back to the Railers with under two
minutes remaining.
As they had done all night, the Lincoln offense churned out a
methodical drive, gashing the Senators with small gains and
converting on third and fourth down.
The drive's biggest play was 19-yard pass from quarterback Austin
Krusz to receiver Dane Eimer.
Eimer made an all-out dive to haul in the pass, putting Lincoln
inside the 5-yard line in the final minute.
After two rushing attempts failed to get the Railers into the end
zone, Krusz sneaked past the goal line behind his offensive line to
put Lincoln ahead 28-21 in the final seconds.
"If it's a short-yardage play like that, I want the ball in my
hand. If it's a yard, I know I can get it," said Krusz of the
go-ahead touchdown. "It's heart. I knew my line would get a push on
it. We got a big push every time we ran the sneak pretty much all
year."
Eimer's catch was the play of the season for the Railers thus far
on offense.
"I was running and I knew the corner would be playing up on me,
pushing me," said Eimer. "I knew I just had to get one half-step on
him. Krusz looked at me before the play, and I knew he was coming to
me. I had to get open.
"Once I saw the ball in the air, I was not going let it hit the
ground. That's for sure. He's my quarterback. I've got his back."
It was the biggest win in the coaching tenure of Andy McDonald.
"It's an awesome feeling. I'm really pleased for these guys,
because they've worked so hard," said McDonald. "To be able to come
out here, in front of their home fans on homecoming, it's a huge win
for us. It's a conference win. Springfield is a good team.
Homecoming? It's fun.
"I told the guys, there's not a lot in life that's more exciting
than this, right now."
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Lincoln played well on both offense and defense.
Offensively, the three-pronged attack of Schmidt, Anthony Cannon
and Cody Heidbreder had their best game of the season, combining for
222 yards on the ground. Krusz was able to fill in the gaps,
throwing for 108 yards and completing 7 of 12 attempts.
The success of the Railer offense kept Springfield's dynamic
athletes off the field.
"That's the idea. They've got some pretty explosive kids back
there," said McDonald. "If we can keep the ball out of their hands
and keep moving the ball, we're going to be in a much better
position to win."
On the other side of the ball, a Lincoln defense that surrendered
63 points to Chatham just a week ago was able to corral the
Senators' speed. Trailing 14-6 at halftime, the Railers held their
opponents to just one second-half touchdown.
"We did a better job of wrapping up, flying to the ball,"
McDonald said. "We bent a little bit, but we didn't completely
break. We really put the hammer down in the second half."
But, according to the players, the difference in the game was
heart.
"We picked up each other on every single play. Every play," said
Eimer. "If someone made a bad play, someone else was there to pick
them up. We made a lot of plays."
"We just made plays. There was no negative talk. And I think we
just wanted it more tonight," added Schmidt, who finished with 57
yards on 14 attempts and an 11-yard touchdown run.
Heidbreder again led Lincoln in rushing, with 74 yards on 12
attempts. Heidbreder also made a crucial catch on the final drive
for 10 yards and scored a 19-yard touchdown run. Cannon bulldozed
his way for 69 yards on 18 attempts.
Eimer finished with three catches for 45 yards. Wes White also
had a big night, catching two passes for 47 yards and hauling in a
critical interception on defense.
With Lincoln's win, their record improved to 2-3 on the season.
[By JUSTIN TIERNEY]
Justin Tierney's Railer football reports
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