Lincoln Youth Football teams dominate in Indianapolis

[October 26, 2017] 

LINCOLN

It isn’t that often that a child has the opportunity to claim that they have played on a professional sports team’s field. As of this past Sunday, the Lincoln Youth Football (LYF) Varsity and Senior teams can lay claim to that experience. As part of a partnership with the Junior Football League of Central Illinois (JFLOCI) and the Indianapolis Colts the two teams were invited to play at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis following the conclusion of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Colts contest.

Prior to the beginning of the 2017 season, the LYF program was invited to join the JFLOCI based out of Peoria. After weighing the pros and cons of leaving their prior league out of Springfield, the LYF Board of Directors opted to join the JFLOCI due to the many benefits they had to offer which included a more diverse conference, which boasts 29 teams, and the many extra opportunities that come with such a large conference. One of those opportunities was the chance to play in Indianapolis; a potential experience of a lifetime.

The teams, which consist of sixth, seventh and eighth graders from Lincoln and surrounding communities, traveled to Lucas Oil Stadium via two charter buses. With all their game gear stowed below, complementary donuts provide by Mel-O-Cream, and music playing in their headphones, the “Pro Player” experience was underway.

After arriving at the stadium the players entered through a private entrance and shown to a conference room beneath the field which would become their “locker room” for the day. Then the teams were allowed to explore downtown Indianapolis and the stadium prior to the NFL game.

With a few minutes left in the Colts/Jaguars game the players reported to their locker room to prepare for two exhibition games each, against two opponents. Due to time constraints the games were played with modified rules. The only significant changes were the size of the field (50 yards instead of 100) and no special teams play, with two games being played simultaneously on opposite sides of the field.

The Senior team started their day against the Dunlap Eagles, who would be unable to score on the Railers. On their first possession the Railers would score on a Bryton Fuchs run after a long pass from Elijah Pollice to Brody Whiteman that set the Railsplitters up on the Dunlap three yard line. On the Railers third possession Andrew Cline led the way with a 24 yard run down to the Eagles’ two yard line, followed by another Fuchs touchdown run.

Then it was the Varsity squad’s turn, who would face the Ghosts of IVC out of Chillicothe. The contest, like the Senior’s first game, would prove to be one sided with the Railers winning the game two scores to none.

Quarterback Darren Stevens would score on a long run and running back Lucas Hurt forcing his way from seven yards out for the second touchdown of the game.

After defeating IVC the Varsity team would turn around and play again, this time facing off against Dunlap. The Eagles would prove to be too much, defeating the Railers 2-1, with Lincoln’s only touchdown coming from another long Stevens touchdown run.

The final game of the day would put the Lincoln Youth Football Seniors against the Rebels from Stark County. The Railers used their run attack, comprised of Tony Gandolfi, Bryton Fuchs, and Andrew Cline to march down the turf and would score on their second possession with a Cline seven yard touchdown run. The rest of the game was all about Lincoln’s defense, which would only allow one first down all game. The game ended with the Railers coming out on top 1-0.

Darren Stevens #7, Wyatt Mammen #69

#24 Jake Baker, #11 Lucas Hurt, #17 Riley Helton, #82 Donovan Hamblen

​#7 Elijah Pollice hands off to Tony Gandolfi -#17

Bryton Fuchs awaits the snap on defense

On the right Gavin Gibbon (28) and ​Dayhlon Kusnerik (55) making the tackle.  To the left Andrew Cline (34) and Marco Power (38))

When the games had ended, the pictures had been taken, off in the distance the last person standing on that NFL field was a lone Lincoln Railsplitter. The Seniors, still in their pads, stared into the empty stands taking it all in, finally realizing where they were standing and who had played on that very same turf in games past. The Railers’ day had ended. The experience, however brief it may have been, will last forever.

The Lincoln Youth Football Council wishes to extend their gratitude to the Junior Football League of Central Illinois for providing the players with this opportunity, Mel-O-Cream for providing breakfast, but most importantly, to the coached, parents and families that inspire their players to be outstanding young men and women.

[Samuel White]