Lanphier uses two second-half
touchdowns to defeat Lincoln 18-14
[August 30, 2025]
For more than three quarters of the contest, the Lincoln
football team looked in control of its game at Lanphier Friday
night. The Lions came to life and took advantage of some key breaks
late in the game, however, and when the clock ran out, Lanphier
found itself on the winning side of the ledger, 18-14.
“We just made way too many mistakes,” said Lincoln coach Matt
Silkowski after the contest. “We just didn’t execute very well. Our
defense made plays really well early on in the game, and when we
really really needed one late, we just kind of folded at times and
couldn’t get out of our own way tonight.”
In the opening quarter this first game of the season for both
squads, the game had the feel of two prize fighters in a boxing
match getting a feel for their opponents and getting their feet
under themselves. Lanphier’s had a three-and-out opening possession,
but the Railers opening drive ended when they lost a fumble that
Lanphier recovered. Lanphier lost the ball on downs in its next
possession, but the Lincoln offense could not sustain a drive and
punted after its next drive stalled. The quarter ended scoreless.
Lanphier punted to the Railers to open the second stanza, and
Lincoln’s Seth Durbin scored on a 37-yard touchdown run on Lincoln’s
first play of the ensuing possession. The successful point-after by
Lucas Melton gave the Railsplitters a 7-0 lead.
After a Lanphier drive stalled and the Lions punted, Lincoln lost
the ball on a fumble in its next series to give the home team
1st-and-10 on the Railer 38-yard line. Speedy Lions’ quarterback
Camarie Richmond broke free at the line of scrimmage and scampered
to the endzone for a touchdown. Lanphier’s 2-point conversion was
unsuccessful, so the Railers maintained a 7-6 advantage. The Railers
then moved the ball downfield and got another touchdown run from
Durbin, this one from one yard out. Another successful PAT by Melton
made the score 14-6, and thanks to some stingy defense by the
Railers, the score remained 14-6 at halftime.
Lanphier opened the third quarter by driving deep into Lincoln
territory before surrendering the ball on downs at the Railer 3-yard
line. If Lanphier could keep Lincoln from moving the ball, it would
give the Lions a short field and a great scoring opportunity. Jacob
Long gave Lincoln some breathing room, however, with an 11-yard run
to give the Railer offense some space to operate. The Lincoln
offense could not sustain a drive, however, but Lanphier was unable
to move the ball throughout the stanza as well. The 14-6 Lincoln
lead held going into the fourth quarter.
[to top of second column] |
The Railers began the quarter by turning the ball over on downs on a
4th-and-15 near midfield. A few plays later, Trey Sanchez found the
endzone on a 15-yard run for Lanphier to pull the Lions to within
14-12.
Momentum had swung to Lanphier’s side, and the Railer offense was
unable to move the ball on the ensuing possession. But the Railer
special teams came up with a big play as Lucas Melton nailed a
52-yard punt downed on the Lanphier 1-yard line by Railer Quinten
Mead. The play pinned the Lions deep in their own territory and
ultimately allowed the Railers to get possession in decent field
possession when Lanphier could only advance the ball to its own
38-yard line.
However, the Railers turned the ball back over to the Lions as
Lincoln lost the handle during a handoff. Lanphier recovered on its
own 41-yard line, and after moving the ball downfield, Richmond
scored on a quarterback sneak to make the score 18-14 and give
Lanphier its first lead of the game with 2:24 remaining.
Lincoln fought during the time remaining in the contest. The Railers
advanced the ball following the kickoff and got into Lanphier
territory when Lincoln quarterback Briggs Davenport connected with
Quentyn Quisenberry on a 41-yard pass play. Lincoln was unable to
move the ball much farther, however, and the Railers opened the
season with an 18-14 loss to Lanphier.
Unofficial statistics showed Durbin led Lincoln with 75 yards
rushing. Long added 44 yards, Quisenberry contributed 40 and Paxton
Lora chipped in with 19 yards.
Preston Hunt led the Railers on the defensive side with five
tackles. Kaeden Wilkerson and Quisenberry added three tackles each.
The loss moves the Railers’ record to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the
Central State 8.
Lincoln returns home on September 5 to take on Southeast in a
Central State 8 contest starting at 7 PM.
[Loyd Kirby] |
