Railer football team earns 55-24 homecoming win over Eisenhower

 

[September 28, 2024]  LINCOLN – On a windy homecoming night at Handlin Field in Lincoln, the Railer football team moved back into the win column with a 55-24 Central State 8 victory over Decatur Eisenhower.

It took a little while for the Lincoln offense to find its footing, but once it did, the points were plentiful. The Railers scored the first three touchdowns of the game to go up 21-0. Lincoln got rush TDs from Paytan Bunner and Gabe Smith sandwiched around a 44-yard touchdown pass play from Tate Johnston to Jayden Gulley.

Eisenhower got on the board toward the end of the first quarter when Panther quarterback Garryon Henderson hit Demonte Phillips on a 61-yard touchdown pass play. The Panthers added a 2-point conversion to make the score 21-8.

Lincoln got second quarter touchdowns again from Bunner and Smith, as well as a 15-yard TD run from Johnston and a 9-yard score by Kyle Koehler. The last touchdown gave the Railers a 48-8 advantage at halftime, so the second half was played with a running clock.

With the game in hand, a lot of Railer reserves played the second half. The lone Railer touchdown of the half came on a 1-yard run by Kaden Adams in the fourth quarter. Eisenhower notched a pair of touchdowns in the second half on 48- and 52-yard scoring runs.

Railer PAT kicker Lucas Melton equaled a Railer record, tying the mark for most PATs in a game with 7.

“I really couldn’t do that without the O-line that drags me down there,” Melton said. “I’m really thankful to get the opportunity to play that important role.”

According to unofficial statistics for the game, the Railers were led in rushing by Koehler (10 attempts, 85 yards, 1 touchdown), Bunner (8 attempts, 82 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Smith (9 attempts, 75 yards, 2 touchdowns).

The Railer offense outgained Eisenhower in total yards, 348 to 235.

Lucas Melton

On defense, Frank Sanders led the Railers with 4 tackles, including 1 tackle for loss (TFL). Cort Pentecost added 3 tackles (1 TFL) and Aiden Frye tallied 2 tackles (2 TFLs). Logan Wachendorf and Logan Riggs each had sacks for Lincoln.

The victory moves the Railers to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the Central State 8.

Lincoln’s next game is October 4 when the Railers host Decatur MacArthur in a 7 PM Central State 8 contest.

[Loyd Kirby]

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