Rockets launch aerial assault
against Lincoln as Rochester defeats LCHS 56-6
[September 19, 2026]
Lincoln, Ill. -- Many sports fans measure a team’s success by wins
and losses and figures on the scoreboard. It would be easy for the
casual fan to look at the 56-6 loss Lincoln suffered Friday night
against perennial state powerhouse Rochester and dismiss it as just
another lopsided loss for the Railers.
After all, in all four games since their Week 1 victory over Peoria
Manual, the Railers have been outscored by a whopping 235-6 margin.
Other than the fact that Lincoln scored a touchdown this
week--breaking a three-week, 12-quarter scoring drought--is there
really a difference between 60-0, 62-0, 57-0 or 56-6 losses?
Again, the casual fan might look at the scores and Lincoln’s
four-game losing streak and write the season off. The casual fan
might, but don’t tell first-year Railer head coach Aaron Fricke, as
he saw some good signs in his team’s performance against Rochester.
“I’m just so proud of them tonight, because I don’t think they
thought they were going to be able to do some of the things they
did,” Fricke said of his Railers, who dropped to 1-4 with the loss.
“Saying that after a 56-6 loss feel very odd to me, but you could
tell the moral victories and the confidence went up, and I hope that
that translates and we can build off of it.”
Rochester received the opening kickoff, returning it to midfield,
but the Railer defense held the potent Rocket offense to a couple
short gain on their first couple plays. But on third down, Rochester
got on the scoreboard with a 49-yard touchdown pass and took a 7-0
lead.
The Railer offense sputtered on its initial possession and had to
punt from deep in its own territory. But Lincoln punter Jalen
Shaffer, as he has done several times this season, came up big for
the Railers by kicking a booming 50-yard punt to put Rochester at
its own 32-yard line to begin its second possession of the game.
However, it didn’t take long, for the Rockets to move downfield and
strike yet again, this time on a 13-yard touchdown pass play to make
the score 14-0.
The Railers knew they would have their hands full against Rochester.
To go with their rich history of numerous state championships, this
year’s Rocket squad is loaded with experience; in the game against
Lincoln, 20 of Rochester’s 22 offensive and defensive starters were
seniors.
By comparison, Lincoln’s initial roster of the season listed a total
of nine seniors on the squad.
Rochester put 21 points up in the first quarter, adding 21 more in
the second quarter and an additional 14 in the third period. Leading
the offensive attack was quarterback J.P. Leonard, who launched
seven touchdown passes for the Rockets in the game.
Despite the onslaught, there were some positives for Lincoln. The
defense looked more cohesive, especially during a stretch of the
second period when the Railer D turned in a highlight reel play to
put LCHS on the scoreboard.
[to top of second column] |
Rochester lined up near midfield, and Rocket quarterback J.P.
Leonard looked to his right for an open receiver. He threw the ball
to receiver Zane Zulauf, who was hit by Railer defender Griffin
Jenness. Jenness jarred the ball loose, as it popped out of Zulauf’s
hands and into the hands of Lincoln’s Seth Durbin on the 50-yard
line. The LCHS senior sprinted down the sideline to the end zone to
put the Railers on the scoreboard with Lincoln’s first touchdown
since Week 1.
But the offense got contributions from multiple players as well.
Quarterback Kane Komnick continued showcasing his bruising running
skills on a few keeper plays where he scrambled for significant
yardage. Paxton Lora made a couple big receptions for Lincoln.
Quinten Mead caught a pass for a big gain to keep the chains moving
for the Railer offense. Colby Merriman and Reece Warner contributed
to the Lincoln ground game to balance out the Railer aerial assault.
The Railer defense looked better tonight as far as being in assigned
positions and being aggressive. Unfortunately, Rochester quarterback
J.P. Leonard put on a quarterbacking clinic, throwing seven
touchdown passes for the Rockets.
Despite the outcome on the scoreboard, Fricke said he was pleased
with how his team performed against Rochester.
“I didn’t expect to do a whole lot tonight,” he said. “We set little
goals, even though we knew we probably weren’t going to come out
with a win. It wasn’t perfect by any means. But the sideline was
excited-- scoring a touchdown, getting first downs--it was little,
tiny things like that and the energy stayed up.”
With the Railers getting more comfortable with their first-year
coaches systems, coupled with the expanded playoff format enacted by
the IHSA this season, Fricke said he still sees a path through which
Lincoln could make it into the postseason.
“U-High’s obviously going to be a pretty good opponent next week,”
he said. “But I think we match up better with them than obviously we
have the last few weeks. Then Southeast and Lanphier are definitely
games that are winnable.
“And Hillsboro…they are doing really good. I know a lot of people
will say they’re a smaller school, but we think we know how that
feels against some of the conference foes we play.
“But, the kids see that it’s possible. That light at the end of the
tunnel, you can actually see it….for once.”
Lincoln travels to Hancock Stadium in Normal on the campus of
Illinois State University to take on the Pioneers of University High
School in a 7 PM game on September 25. Then the Railers return home
on October 2 for their homecoming game against Hillsboro.
Lincoln Railer Football vs
Rochester highlights video
[Loyd Kirby] |
