 The Railers shut out the Lions in the second half en route to a
22-14 victory.
In large part because of that defensive effort, Lincoln has an
opportunity to start a winning streak this week against a visiting
Springfield Southeast squad.
Railer coach Andy McDonald said the Railers didn't do anything
different strategically in the second half.
Rather, it was just a matter of getting back to basics, mixed
with a little bit of pride.
"We didn't do anything that differently. We just re-emphasized
what we had been telling them all week, the things to focus on,"
said McDonald. "I think when the guys came in at halftime, they were
kind of mad because the (Lanphier) quarterback was just running all
over us. ... They felt like one guy was beating us.
"We shot ourselves in the foot a few times offensively. They felt
like they weren't going to let one guy keep running through us. It's
a great credit to the kind of kids we've got to make that
adjustment."
Senor leads Spartans
The Railers can't afford to let last week's second-half
insistence on not being beaten by one player go to the wayside this
week.
If they do, Herman Senor has the potential to beat them by
himself.
Senor is arguably the best all-around athlete in the Central
State Eight conference, having earned all-conference honors in
basketball and baseball already in 2012. The Spartans' senior
quarterback combines a pitcher's throwing arm with the athleticism
of a guard on the basketball floor.
Containing him will be Lincoln's primary focus, especially when
he's outside the pocket.
"Senor is experienced, a great athlete and quick, with a strong
arm," said McDonald. "He has composure back to, when he's chased
around, still find somebody open. We've got to really not stop
playing until the whistle blows. We've got to fly to the ball and
keep to our responsibilities throughout the play. We can't let up at
all."
Schweitzer speaks
The Railers got a special treat at their weekly Thursday night
team dinner.
Former football coach Ken Schweitzer addressed the team.
Schweitzer, who currently serves as a radio analyst for Lincoln
football games, spoke to the squad about highly successful Railer
teams of the 1980s while mixing in discussions of life lessons.
The former coach also brought a gift to McDonald: a team picture
of the 1984 squad that finished the season with a 9-2 record.
McDonald played on that squad.
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"I didn't recognize any of the kids. I've been retired way too
long," said Schweitzer, who served as a guidance counselor at LCHS
in addition to his coaching responsibilities. "But we used to do
things like this when I coached, too.
"I think it's a neat idea for him to have other people talk to
them, too. I think it's good for kids to hear from adults, some life
lessons."
Talking about the 1984 squad still brings a smile to Schweitzer's
face.
"None of them were even born then. But it can happen here. It has
happened here," said Schweitzer, who served as the defensive
coordinator on that team. "So why not remind them? That's part of
what history is: what can be done, what has happened."
As a linebacker on that 1984 squad, McDonald knew Schweitzer well
and has fond memories of playing for Schweitzer's defense.
"He was a guy you loved to play for," said McDonald. "He was a
very even-keeled guy. He was a very good teacher of the game, and
you knew that he cared about us, not just as players but as students
and kids. Guys enjoyed playing for him and our other coaches."
Schweitzer is part of a series of speakers McDonald is bringing
in this season to speak to players, with the idea being to bring in
people who can motivate them as athletes and also as students.
It's also about building confidence and instilling a sense of
pride, McDonald says.
"I think our guys are mature enough to appreciate when somebody
takes their time out to talk to them," said McDonald. "I hope it's a
boost to their confidence as a Lincoln High School football player,
because, to be honest, these guys have all grown up and never seen a
football team with a winning record. That's all they know.
"The intention is to bring in some past history and let them know
there's a lot of great pride in Lincoln football in previous ages.
We still have that pride in what they're doing."
[By JUSTIN TIERNEY]
Justin Tierney's Railer football reports
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