Lincoln looks to get back to winning against Charleston

[September 29, 2017]  By Benjamin Yount

LINCOLN – Lincoln's last home football win came 51 weeks ago.

The Railers return to Handlin Field Friday night to take on the Charleston High School Trojans in a game that Railsplitter head coach Matt Silkowski said his team can win.

“(Charleston) is an 0-5 team heading into Friday night,” Silkowski explained after Lincoln's final practice on Thursday. But he cautioned his team against thinking the Trojans will be a pushover. “They are a really good football team. They have a solid running game.”

Charleston, like Lincoln, has played the cream of the Apollo Conference during their first five games. The Trojans lost them all, but averaged more than two touchdowns a game.

“They run their inside zone play very well,” Silkowski said. “Their backs hit the holes. They are very patient. Their quarterback does a really good job. They throw when they have to.”

But Charleston's defense has given up and average of almost five touchdowns a game.

Coach Silky hopes his offense can score that often as well.

“There are some looks we like,” Silkowski said. “They play a standard base Cover Three. Which is something our kids are used to seeing everyday.”

“We'll keep the ball moving,” Senior tailback Titus Cannon said. “We'll make sure plenty of people touch the ball.”

Lincoln practices special teams ahead of Friday's match up against Charleston. 

Silkowski said the key for the Railer offense will be exploiting mismatches.

The key could also be the Handlin Field faithful.

Lincoln has seen larger crowds this year. And Friday's game is the first home game in three weeks.

“Everybody is pumped up for it,” Cannon added. “We're ready for the crowd to make some noise. There is an expectation for this game.”

Friday's match up will do more than give Lincoln a chance to get back into the win column.

The Railers' schedule for the rest of the season is easier than the first half. Only one team remaining on the schedule has a winning record.

If Lincoln wins out, that'd be five wins. In Illinois, five wins is sometimes good enough to make the playoffs.

“Going 5-4 and having a chance, at our stage in our program, having a chance is all you can really ask for,” the coach said. “In life or football, if you set yourself up for a chance, it's all you can really ask for.”

Lincoln welcomes the Charleston High School Trojans to Handlin Field Friday night. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

[by Ben Yount]