Railers Look To Winnable Game Against Charleston

[September 28, 2018]  By Benjamin Yount

LINCOLN – Both Lincoln and Charleston have something to prove Friday night.

The two are the bottom two teams in the Apollo Conference. Lincoln has won just one game this year, Charleston has yet to win.

But both have Friday night circled on the calendar, and both are looking to win.

“We're confident right now,” Lincoln junior quarterback Dreyden Pozsgei said. “We're not cocky. We're confident. Everybody knows this is a game that we can win. But we don't want to get too cocky and blow it.”

Lincoln beat Charleston last year, 40-14. Railer head coach Matt Silkowski said that was then, this is now.

“There are no 'gimme games' for us,” Silkowski said. “Our program is not in that position right now. We can't assume we'll win, we can't listen to any of that kind of talk.”

Lincoln played its best football of the year last week against Taylorville. The Railers lost, but Silkowski said the game was a moral victory.

It was a costly moral victory though.

Lincoln receiver Noah Funk suffered a concussion, and several other players came away from the Taylorville game with bumps and bruises and lingering injuries.

“We need some guys to step up,” Silkowski said about responding to the injuries. “With Noah out, Jayden Graham needs to step up like he did for us last week. We fell confident that he can't step up. Other receivers, like Colton Holliday and Alex Bogdanic, we need those guys to step-up.”

Lincoln defense end Andrew Schmidt tries to break through the line during Wednesday's practice.

Silkowski came away from the game on the inured list as well. He took a hit on the sidelines last Friday, and needed a few days off to recover.

Charleston has scored 70 points over its first five games of the year, and given up 162.

Pozsgei said he thinks Lincoln can add to that total.

“They run a lot of man, and Cover Three on defense,” Pozsgei said. “We should be able to throw the ball on them.”

Charleston will have a little extra to play for Friday, it is their homecoming game.

Lincoln High School travels to Charleston Friday, kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

[story and photos by Benjamin Yount]