No. 3-ranked Quincy defeats Lincoln 54-12; Railers must win Oct. 25 to be playoff eligible

 

[October 21, 2024]  QUINCY -- The Quincy Notre Dame Raiders showed why they were ranked No. 3 in the most recent Associated Press IHSA Class 2A football poll as QND used an impressive array of firepower in defeating Lincoln 54-12.

“Their offense and defensive line is really good,” said Lincoln head coach Matt Silkowski. “They get off the ball really well, they slant really well and they do a really good job of getting in the opponent’s backfield Our O-line needed to match the physicality they played with, and we just weren’t able to do that.
 
“Obviously, [they’re] a really good football team, Quincy Notre Dame. The things that they do really well are just not a good matchup for us. They took advantage of that. We’ve just got to keep getting better and give ourselves a shot here in Week 9.”

The “shot here in Week 9” to which Silkowski referred is a chance for the LCHS football team to be playoff eligible for the second season in a row. To do so, the Railers must be Jacksonville on October 25

Following the loss to Quincy Notre Dame, Lincoln’s record stands at 4-4. In order to be considered for the IHSA postseason playoffs, teams must accumulate a minimum of five victories during the season. Beating the Crimsons would give LCHS its fifth win on the season, which doesn’t guarantee a playoff spot, but it does make the team eligible for consideration. However, recent history indicates that teams which amass five victories during the season rarely do not qualify.

Last season on September 29, the Railsplitters beat Jacksonville 41-28 to earn their fifth win and make Lincoln playoff eligible for the first time since 1984. If Lincoln is to be playoff eligible again this season, the Railsplitters will have to beat Jacksonville on October 25 on Lincoln’s senior night in a 7 PM game at Handlin Field.

Silkowski said, despite the loss to Quincy Notre Dame, he’s pleased with Railsplitter team’s frame of mind heading into the season finale.

“Our kids played really hard,” Silkowski said. “I’m happy with the attitude; they kids played well. There’s no finger-pointing going on. They stayed together as a team, and I think that’s really important.”

At the 3:25 mark of the first quarter Friday, QND’s Wyatt Mueller opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper to make it 7-0. Then in the first play of the second quarter, Mueller found the end zone again for the Raiders, this time on an 82-yard punt return to put QND up 14-0.

Despite occasional good plays on both sides of the ball, the Railers struggled to sustain any momentum in the first half. QND held a 28-0 advantage at intermission.

Head coach Matt Silkowski

Lincoln came out like a team on a mission to start the third quarter. Kyle Koehler opened the period with 42-yard kickoff return. Then Paytan Bunner carried for 12 and 11 yards on consecutive possessions before scoring on a short touchdown run to cut the QND lead to 28-6.

The Railer defense then shined as, on the first play following the ensuing kickoff, Aiden Frye sacked Raider quarterback Mueller and jarred the ball loose in the process; Alec Schmidt recovered for Lincoln. Unfortunately, Lincoln couldn’t move the ball and gave possession back to QND. A short time later, QND’s Oliver Tripplet scored on a 21-yard pass and run after the catch to put QND up 34-6.

Lincoln continued to battle, however. The Railers opened the fourth quarter with Tate Johnston hitting Gabe Smith on a 26-yard touchdown pass play to make the score 34-12 in favor of QND. Quincy would add 20 more points in the final period, and Lincoln fell by the final score of 54-12.

Johnston passed for 77 yards unofficially for the Railers. Bunner added 64 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Koehler led receivers with 36 yards; Smith added 26 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Cort Pentecost had 7 tackles and an assist to lead the Railer defense.

LCHS hosts Jacksonville in the final regular-season game for both schools Friday, October 25th on senior night for the Railsplitters. The opening kickoff at Handlin Field is scheduled for 7 PM.

[Loyd Kirby]