Railers Not Letting Winning Go To Their Heads

[September 01, 2017]  By Benjamin Yount

LINCOLN – The Lincoln Railers aren't letting their winning streak go to their heads.

Seriously.

After winning only one varsity football game from 2012 to 2016, Lincoln is on a bit of a winning streak.

The Railsplitters beat Macomb High School 7-6 last week. Coach Matt Silkowski said his team this week made sure that one win isn't their only win this season.

“That was self controlled by the players,” Silkowski said after Thursday's practice. “We told them last Friday 'Let's not look back on October 19th and say That was fun when we beat Macomb,'. We don't want that. We want to keep getting better each week, and get more wins.”

Lincoln is 1-0 for the first time in a dozen years.

It may be difficult to go 2-0.

The Railers host Mt. Zion High School on Friday night.

Mt. Zion pummeled Limestone last week, winning 47-0, and Silkowski said the Braves are a tough team to beat.

“They run a lot of tight end sets, they run between the tackles,” coach Silky said. “They're a really well coached, disciplined team. They're one of the best in the Apollo Conference.”

Mt. Zion's running attack will be the first real test of the new, tougher Lincoln defense.

Junior safety Austin Sparrow said he hopes to be able to match Mt. Zion hit-for-hit.

“All around, just the attitude of the defense is different,” Sparrow said. “Everybody wants to make the plays.”

Sparrow said he's happy to have a much improved linebacking corps (sophomore Isaac Dewberry, junior Matt Yount, sophomore Payton Anderson, sophomore Thomas Morris, and senior Isaiah Bowers) in front of him.

“It helps when the linebackers get there and eat up some blocks,” Sparrow added. “I don't have to be the last line of defense.”

If Lincoln has a shot at going 2-0 it will likely come on the offensive side of the ball.

Senior running back Titus Cannon is once again expected to carry the ball most of the game.

“We know Mt. Zion is a good football team. We feel that this will be a good test for us,” Cannon said. “We feel like we've got some stuff for them. Some stuff they haven't seen before.”

Mt. Zion is the first of Lincoln's new conference opponents. The Apollo Conference is not the Central State Eight, but it's no slouch either.

Mt. Zion and Effingham got votes to be ranked in Class 4A, Taylorville is ranked 9th in the latest 4A poll.

“We feel like we can compete,” Titus said. “This is our first real test in the new conference.”

Lincoln hosts Mt. Zion High School at Handlin Field Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

[Benjamin Yount;  photos by Shari Sparrow]