Glenwood turns in Goliath-like performance in shutting out Lincoln, 57-0

 

[October 12, 2024] 

CHATHAM -- In a season of streaks, the 2024 Lincoln Railer football team was coming off arguably its best game of the year on October 4 when Lincoln beat MacArthur 43-33. The victory was Win No. 4 for the Railsplitters, meaning the team needed one more victory to become eligible for the IHSA playoffs for a second straight season.

But in a season fraught with more ups and downs than the most treacherous of roller coasters, Lincoln won its first two games, then lost two, then won two more prior to its Central State 8 contest Friday at Glenwood.

With an energetic homecoming crowd looking on, the Titans sent the Railers season on another downturn in shutting out Lincoln 57-0.

Lincoln received the opening kickoff, and it looked as if the Railers might make the contest closer than it wound up being. Lincoln faced a third and 23 situation on its opening drive, and seniors Tate Johnston and Gabe Smith connected on a 24-yard pass play for a Railer first down. But a few plays later, Glenwood intercepted a pass near midfield. Five plays later, the Titans punched it into the endzone when Mueller scored on a 4-yard touchdown run.

That was the first of three first-quarter touchdowns for Glenwood, as the Titans scored touchdowns on pass plays of 5 and 46 yards. An errand Lincoln snap on a punt attempt near the end of the quarter resulted in a safety for the Titans, pushing the score to 22-0 entering the second stanza.

The Titans scored three more touchdowns in the second frame to increase the Glenwood lead before halftime. The Titans scored on touchdown runs of 5 and 10 yards as well as a pass play of 4 yards. Glenwood led 43-0 at the half.

Unfortunately for the Railers, it was more of the same in the third quarter. Glenwood added a pair of touchdowns--on a 71-yard run and a 4-yard pass--for the 57-0 final margin of victory.

Unofficial statistics from the game indicate how dominant Glenwood was. The Railers averaged just under 250 rushing yards per game in their first six games; the Titans held them to 51. Lincoln generated an average of almost 300 yards in offense in its first six games; Glenwood held the Railers to 75 total yards.

Despite the lopsided score, LCHS head coach Matt Silkowski was pleased with the approach of his players.

“I thought our kids played with good effort and attitude,” he said. “They fought as hard as they could.

Head Coach Matt Silkowski

Aiden Frye

“It’s a ‘David versus Goliath’ thing. We flushed it already; there’s nothing to be upset with the kids about. They did everything that they could that we asked them to do.”

Even though the Railer record dropped to 4-3 with the loss, Silkowski said the team wasn’t panicking about garnering its fifth win to become playoff eligible.

“Everything is still within reach, and we’re okay with that,” he said. “When you look at it, we knew that this was one [game against Glenwood] that would be really hard to get. We left here in good spirits. We had a good postgame talk with them [Railer players] and just kind of told them to flush it and we’re on to the next one.”

The Railers travel to Quincy on October 18 to face Quincy Notre Dame, currently ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press IHSA Class 2A poll. Quincy ND defeated Jacksonville 35-21 on October 11 to move its season record to 6-1 overall.

The Railsplitters conclude the regular season at home October 25 when Lincoln hosts Jacksonville. Last season, the Railers beat Jacksonville 41-28 to earn their fifth win of the year and become eligible for the 2023 IHSA postseason playoffs.

[Loyd Kirby]