Saturday, August 30, 2014
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Railers show glimpses in loss to Spartans

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[August 30, 2014]  By Benjamin Yount

LINCOLN  --  The Lincoln Railers had already received several kickoffs by the time Cameron Cook fielded a kick about midway through Friday night’s second quarter.

“They kicked the ball, I got it at the ten,” Cook explained after Lincoln’s 46-8 loss to Springfield’s Southeast High School. “As I was running up the sideline I stiff-armed a kid. Then another came at my legs, so I just hurdled over him.”

Cook’s leap added about five yards to his kick return, but more importantly, gave the Railers a spark that lead to their first score of season.

“Cam…set the momentum with that jump. And I told (the team) in the huddle ‘We gotta capitalize on the play’,” junior quarterback Garrett Aeilts said.

Lincoln then quickly moved the ball against a fast, athletic, and aggressive Spartan defense.

Just a few plays later, Aeilts connected with senior wide receiver Will Cook for a touchdown pass.

“We came out of the huddle…Their outside linebacker was staying back. As we snapped (the ball) their outside guy came in,” Aeilts said. “I tried to get around him. As soon as I did, they jumped up, so I just dumped it over the top.”

 

The touchdown pass was the Railers’ only score of the game, but not the only bright spot.

Lincoln head coach Andy McDonald said the Railers showed flashes of a team that played better than the lopsided score reflected.

“I thought our running backs ran the ball very well,” McDonald said after the game. “There were a lot of things we saw that we did well.”

McDonald added that Railer defenders were often in the right place to make a play Friday night, but the Southeast Spartans just overwhelmed the undersized and outnumbered Lincoln team.

“Give credit to Southeast,” McDonald said. “They were very fast as a team. They were very aggressive and physical.”

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Southeast High School’s first year head coach Matt Lauber said his team came out ready for his first game in the Central State Eight.

“We don’t take anyone lightly in the CS8,” Lauber said. “I know coach (McDonald) has them ready to play hard for all 48 minutes. That’s how we prepare.”

Friday’s game at Handlin Field was also the first varsity game for a number of Lincoln sophomores.

Alex Linares, a sophomore, started at outside linebacker and made several runs out of the backfield.

“I was really scared before the game,” Linares admitted. “People were telling me about the difference between junior varsity (last year) and varsity.”

But Linares threw his body into the scrum, delivering a number of punishing blows to Spartan ball carriers.

“The first time I made contact with someone who had the ball. That was an eye opener,” Linares said about his stout defensive play.

Linares hopes to play as much next week, he said he thinks he showed the coaches the skills he brings to the field.

But that will depend on some off-the-field factors.

Lincoln will soon get back some of the 12 starters who were either injured or sidelined for others reasons on Friday night.

The next test for the Railers will be the Chatham Glenwood Titans who lost in overtime to Decatur MacArthur 20-17.

Southeast’s week two opponent will be the Jacksonville Crimsons.  

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