Railer Football: Another New Start

[February 29, 2016]  By Benjamin Yount
 
 LINCOLN – Lincoln's newest football coach, Matt Silkowski, showed his soon-to-be players a highlight real of his former team as part his 'get to know you' meeting on Saturday.

After the third straight highlight of a break-away touchdown, many players and parents in the crowd nodded silently in agreement.

But they also whispered to each other 'We don't have those kind of players.'

Silkowsi is the third head football coach in three years at Lincoln High School. He's taking over a team that's has three straight zero-win seasons.

“There's been some struggles offensively, and in the win column,” Silkowski said after meeting his players Saturday. “(But) the impressions I got from Mr Pelker and Mr. Bagby is that they care about the football program. They want to see it go in the right direction. And they're providing me the tools and resources necessary to take this thing where it needs to go.”
 

Lincoln can only go up.

Not only did the 2015 team lose every game, they weren't even close.

Lincoln scored just 34 points all season. They gave-up more than 60 points in four of their nine games, including a 70-0 thrashing at Sacred Heart Griffin.

“This year...the focus is on the seniors,” Silkowski said. “We gotta do everything we can to win now for those guys.”

To-be senior linebacker Scott Lessen says he just wants one win in his time as a Railsplitter football player.

“We gotta get a win to cap (our time) off,” Lessen said. “One win, if not more.”

Running back Alex Linares, who'll also be a senior next season, says he's looking forward to Silkowski's spread offense.

“This year feels a lot more energized than in the past,” Linares said. “I feel (coach Silkowski) has plan set-up this year. Especially the spread offense. I think that'll be a lot better for our program.”

In addition to a spread offense, the new coach is hoping to add some pizazz to the Railer offense.

“We want to get the ball into our play-makers' hands,” The coach told the team. “The best 11 will play.”

But Silkowski said his first challenge is finding the best 11, and then adding a few more.

“The big challenge that we're going to be fighting is just getting kids out,” the new coach added. “I believe the X's and O's on the field will take care of themselves once we get the right kids and the right coaches involved in the program.”

Silkowski is already planning a busy summer for the Railers, and hopes to hit the ground running in June.

The new coach will also take on teaching duties at LCHS where he'll handle some p.e. and special ed classes.

The Railers will open their season August 28 against Springfield High School.

[Benjamin Yount]

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