Tornadoes show no mercy for homecoming weekend

By Scott Kirby

[October 05, 2013]  Homecoming week is a very special and exciting week for the students. Many extra activities are going on during the week that leads up to the football game and homecoming dance. Float building, wacky Olympics, bonfires, homecoming court, parades and spirit days are some of those activities that the students participate in throughout the week. 

But the main event of homecoming week is the football game. Many former players and students who return from college, as well as other members of the community, attend this game as a form of reunion. This night was no exception. Looking in the stands, one could see many familiar faces who have graduated from LCHS.

Unfortunately there wasn't much to cheer about on this homecoming night. The Taylorville Tornadoes came into this matchup with two wins and three losses. Their two wins came against Springfield High and Macomb. The Tornadoes would be playing their last game in Lincoln, as they are moving to a different conference next year.

Taylorville got things going right off the bat as they were able to march right down the field and cap off their drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Dalton Stokes with 9:10 to go in the first.

Lincoln couldn't get any offense going and had a hard time moving the ball on a very tough and stout Tornado defense. On Taylorville's next possession they were able to score again on a 7-yard run by Jake Smothers. Taylorville would score two more times before halftime to make the score 27-0 at the half.

The second half was all Tornadoes. They were able to score three more touchdowns in the second half. Two of those touchdowns were by Jake Smothers with a 14-yard run and a 49-yard run. The last touchdown of the game came from Jeff McChristy with a 76-yard run to make the final score 47-0.

Lincoln had 11 first downs in the game and only two penalties against them for a total of 10 yards. The Railers did turn the ball over twice with one fumble and one interception.

Chris Doung led the Railers in rushing yards with 10 carries for 51 yards. Will Cook led the receivers with two catches for 17 yards. Cook almost made a spectacular catch in the end zone toward the end of the game but was unable to hold on. Austin Krusz was 9 for 20 for 51 yards passing with one interception.

Some of the season stats for the Railers before Friday's game:

• Passing:
  Austin Krusz: 54-102-497, 5 TDs, 3 INTs 

• Rushing:
  Austin Krusz: 48 carries for 197 yards
  Wes White: 10 carries for 122 yards with 2 touchdowns
  Chris Doung: 24 carries for 122 yards

• Receiving:
  Will Cook: 15 catches for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns

• Leading in tackles for the Railers:
  Sam Tiffany: 21 tackles
  Chris Doung and Ethan Kunkel, each with 20 tackles

The season doesn't get any easier for the Lincoln Railers. They travel to Sacred Heart-Griffin next Friday to take on the 5-1 Cyclones in Springfield. The Cyclones lost to the Rochester Rockets earlier in the season. The Railers then return home to take on the undefeated Rochester Rockets.

[By SCOTT KIRBY]