Railers at midpoint, looking for more

[September 22, 2017]  By Benjamin Yount

LINCOLN – Lincoln head football coach Matt Silkowski told his team over and over at their final practice this week, “Our goals are still in sight.”

Lincoln heads into its fifth game of the season with an eye not just on wins, but possibly the playoffs.

“We're excited that we get to play four more,” coach Silkowski said after Thursday practice. “Our kids aren't ready for this to be over yet.”

The Railsplitters are 1-3 on the season, but they've played the cream of the Apollo Conference.

Friday night, Lincoln will play Taylorville, who is 3-1 but has played the bottom of the conference.

“We're familiar with Taylorville and have a lot of respect for them,” the coach said. “They will be a very physical team.”

But Taylorville has not beat a team with a winning record. Two of Lincoln's losses came to Effingham and Mt. Zion who are both 3-1.

Senior linebacker Isaiah Bowers said the team knows that the schedule opens up for Lincoln in the last half of the season. Starting, hopefully, against Taylorville.

“I feel that the first half of the season is behind us,” Bowers said. “We need to use that as motivation for the second half. And get as many wins as we can.”

If Lincoln can eek out a win against Taylorville, then win the rest of their games, the Railers would be guaranteed a playoff spot.

“The schedule lightens up a little bit,” coach Silky said. “We've got an 0-4 Charleston, an 0-4 Urbana, a 2-2 Mahomet, and a 1-3 Freeburg. So there's a lot of opportunity to pick up some wins.”

Railer Senior Issac Dueringer, and the Lincoln offensive line, get in some blocks during their final practice of the week. 

But Silkowski said, just like Lincoln, the record doesn't tell the whole story about those teams' strengths.

“We have some games, that when we look back, we should have won,” sophomore quarterback Drayden Pozsgai said. “But we're looking forward. To the rest of the season.”

It's possible for Lincoln to make the playoffs with five wins, but the team would have to rely on other teams losing and then the final points calculation.

Lincoln travels to Taylorville High School Friday night, kickoff is at 7 p.m.

[by Ben Yount]