Playoffs slip away from Railsplitters

[October 14, 2017]  By Benjamin Yount

LINCOLN – The aftermath of Friday night's Lincoln football game could have gone two ways.

Head coach Matt Silkowski told his team immediately after they lost 22-13 to Mahomet-Seymour that they could complain about the overly generous referees who gave Mahomet chance after chance on Friday night.

He said the Railers could feel sorry for themselves. That they let a chance at the playoffs slip away.

Or, Silkowski said, Lincoln's juniors and sophomores could man-up and win next week's game for their senior captains.

“I love this team, I can't thank our seniors enough,” junior defensive end Andrew Schmidt said through some tears Friday night. “I love 'em to death. Titus (Cannon), (Isaiah) Bowers, (Issac) Dueringer, Tissy (Braiden Tisdale). We've got one more game and we're looking to end it on a positive note for them.”

Lincoln had its chances Friday against Mahomet-Seymour.

The Railers took a 7-6 lead in the first quarter.

Then, as Mahomet was driving the Railers stripped the ball away with about 10 minutes to go in the first quarter. Lincoln then threatened to score. Titus Cannon carried the ball to the one yard line. But an untimely holding penalty pushed the Railers back ten yards.

One play later, sophomore quarterback Drayden Pozsgai was sacked for a 15 yard loss. And what looked like a sure touchdown quickly turned into a missed field goal.

A few minutes later, Lincoln had Mahomet-Seymour trapped deep in their own territory and looking at what would have been a fourth and eight. But, once again, a generous call from the referees gave Mahomet-Seymour a bit of momentum that the Bulldogs eventually turned into a touchdown.

“We gave ourselves some opportunities on both sides of the ball,” coach Silkowski said. We just didn't make the plays when we had to.”

 

Junior Austin Sparrow and Senior Titus Cannon break up a pass in the third quarter against Mahomet-Seymour. 

Lincoln drops to 3-5 on the season. Even with a final match-up against a one win Freeburg team, Lincoln will finish the season with a losing record and will miss the playoffs.

But again, that's where Silkowski told his team this can go one of two ways.

“Embrace the suck,” Silkowski told his team after the loss. “Remember this feeling so the next time we have a chance to punch our ticket, the next time we have a chance put someone away. We do it.”

Coach Silky then challenged his team.

“Win this next one for the seniors,” the coach said just minutes after the loss. “Go out next week and show the seniors the respect, the honor and send them out with a victory.”

Pozsgai, the sophomore quarterback, said even though Lincoln has just four seniors left on the team, they deserve a win on senior night.

“Everybody needs to come out and give everything that they've got,” Pozsgai said. “I think we can put a lot more out there. We've got to do it for the seniors.”

Lincoln has a good chance to finish the season 4-5. It's be the first time since 2009 that Lincoln wins four games.

Lincoln closes its season next Friday at home, 7 p.m. is the kickoff for Senor Night at Handlin Field.

[photo by Sherri Sparrow]