Johnie Logue
Sports Reporter
The Lincoln Cardinals disposed of South Callaway 34-14 last Saturday setting up an unprecedented district championship matchup between two class one Benton County teams. Consider that both Lincoln and Cole Camp are ranked in the top ten and they have never met for a district football title. Consider both teams have 11 seniors and they know each other very well. They are friends off the field but both teams have stated that once the game starts, friendships will be put aside. Consider that Lincoln beat Cole Camp 38-34 earlier in the season at Cole Camp in a game that came down to the wire. Add it all together and you have a much anticipated matchup of two very hungry football teams. It is a shame one has to lose.
The South Callaway game, like most games, was moved to Saturday to escape a Friday evening storm threat. Thankfully, it rained but the wind didn't blow as expected.
Lincoln had a tough first half against Callaway. They were without the services of starting senior quarterback and safety Connor Lynde.
Lynde said, "I hope to be cleared by the doctors and play this week. The guys like me enough to win so I wouldn't have to end my career on the sidelines. "
Lincoln then mixed up the QB assigment between senior Kyle Eckhoff and freshman Riley Sanders.
Lincoln would take the opening kick downfield for an eight play drive and score on a Ross Johnson burst up the middle from ten yards out. He then rammed home the two pointer for a 8-0 lead.
South Callaway would do the same with an eight play drive culminating in a score by quarterback Jacob Martin. The 6'0", 175 pound senior is as hard hitting and as tough as anyone who played against Lincoln this season.
Eckhoff would make a great tackle preventing the 2-point attempt.
In the second quarter, Sanders would scramble and find Kaleb Mundy open for the TD from the five. Eckhoff dropped the 2-point conversion at the goal line on a thundering hit by Martin.
The half ended at 14-6 with the referees confused twice on how many downs Lincoln had.
In the third, Mack Hesse would injure his leg at the 7:55 mark and was carted off the field on a stretcher. Big Mack is recovering at home.
The referees ordered a three minute warmup after the 15 minute delay.
On the first play from scrimmage, Sanders hit Darren Roberts from the 24 for a beautiful TD catch. The PAT was no good and it was 20-6.
At 6:07, Camden Everhart made a crushing sack on Martin for a five yard loss. On a 16 play drive, South Callaway would come up short on a fourth and four at the 25.
At the start of the fourth, Johnson would break one down the sidelines on a pitch from Sanders for a 50 yard run only to fumble at the 15.
Again, South Callaway failed to convert on a fourth and four as their receiver missed the ball on a clear path for the goal line.
Johnson, steaming over his first fumble in two years, would break free for a 55 yard TD run.
Johnson later commented, "I was mad about the fumble and wanted to make up for my mistake. I just wanted to win the game."
Eckhoff caught the 2-point pass and it was 28-6.
Sanders would make a 56 yard punt but South Callaway on a trick play would score on a long pass at the 4:48 mark.
They would race in for the two pointer and it was 28-14.
With clock management, Lincoln would start a drive. Johnson, still mad about his fumble, would break tackles for another 55 yard TD. The PAT was no good and it was 34-14 at the 3:49 mark .
A pooch kick and a Johnson tackle and another sack by Everhart would give the ball back to Lincoln
A first down by Johnson and a knee by Sanders ended matters.
Johnson had one of the best games of his career with three touchdowns, two 2-point conversion and 278 yards on 38 carries. He also made several hard hitting tackles. He growled on one crushing tackle and received a questionable unsportsmanlike penalty. Eckhoff, also with a great game on both sides of the ball pitched in with a 7-48 rushing performance.
Sanders was 5-10 passing for 76 yards.
Coach Drehle comment, "They are a good team. Our line played well and our freshmen (Anthony Srader, Dawson Parrott, Ben Eckhoff and Sanders) stepped up."
Senior lineman Christian White moved to nose tackle and liked the new postion,
"I can see the ball better playing nose tackle," he said.
Asked about the upcoming game, "You have to perform every week. One bad week and you are gone."
The Cardinals, at 10-1 and ranked sixth, Cole Camp at 9-2 and ranked ninth, are gearing up for the big game this week. The inevitable is finally here.
With Hesse out, Lincoln loses their big tight end, a scoring threat and his 6'4" frame on defense.
Will Connor Lynde be 100%? Can Lincoln guard Reid Harrison? Will home field help Lincoln on the turf? Lots of questions this time around.
The game should be on Friday at 7:00pm but stay turned for a possible change.
BCE TV will have all the action live with Lane Johnson and Brett Bryant.
