Another First Game For Lincoln Football

[August 26, 2016]  By Benjamin Yount

LINCOLN – For the second year in a row the Lincoln Railsplitters will have a new coach, a new offense, and a new look coming into the season.
Lincoln's third coach in three seasons, Matt Silkowski, will lead the Splitters on to Handlin Field Friday night against Springfield High.

“It's a lot of emotion,” Silkowski said after Thursday's night's practice. “It's a nervous excitement...It's hitting home that I'm going to take the field for the first time as a head football coach.”
Silkowski has his work laid out for him.
Lincoln is looking for its first varsity football win in three years.

This is also the team's final year in the Central State Eight.

“It's got to be about now,” Silkowski explained. “We live right now. We live day to day. That's been our mantra since we got here in February.”
Today for Lincoln are the Springfield Senators.
Springfield won just two games last year, including a 47-0 drubbing of Lincoln

Senior linebacker Trent Whitham said the Railsplitter defense is dedicated to keeping Springfield out of the end zone this time around.
“I think we can shut them down pretty good on the pass,” Whitham said. “We've been working on our responsibility (for the run game) in the gaps.”
Lincoln allowed more points than another CS8 school last year. They also scored thew fewest.
But Senior running back Nathan Podunajec said the team has more options on offense this year.
“If the run game is going well for us, we'll run the ball,” Podunajec said. “If we can pass the ball, we'll pass.”

Taking a knee.

Senior quarterback Andrew Yount said don't expect to see every play in the playbook against Springfield High.

“(Our offense) is something we're going to work on piece by piece, game by game,” Yount added. “We have a different game plan for each different team. Our game plan will change quite a bit over the season.”

Lincoln's last Central State Eight victory came against Springfield in 2012. The Railers and the Seantors have had some close games since then.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Handlin Field at Lincoln High School.