Week Eleven Showcase Match-Up: Lincoln at Ell-Saline

As we go further in the play-offs the stakes and the matchups get bigger and better. We are to the point where anyone who is playing this far into the fall are legit state title contenders. Both Ell-Saline and Lincoln came into this playoff contest with only one loss on the resume. Ell-Saline fell to the #1 team in 8-Man II in Hanover 32-8 in week one. Lincoln on the other hand was undefeated until they slipped up against Clifton-Clyde 48-44 in week eight district action.   Both of these teams have spend a good amount of the season ranked in the top five of the 8-Man I rankings and both teams lived up to their billings.   Coming into this game one would assume Ell-Saline was the favorite due to playing at home and coming off some big wins recently, namely the 22-20 victory over Little River. On top of that, the Cardinals are a very senior heavy led line-up.   Ell-Saline has a athletic and physical roster that is lead by senior Reese Krone (6-foot-5, 230-pounds), senior [player_tooltip player_id='1618530' first='Kas' last='Kramer'] (5-foot-10, 170-pounds), senior Collin Dent (5-foot-11, 160-pounds) and senior Trey Williams (6-foot-4, 200-pounds). Krone and Williams give Ell-Saline bigger bodies that gobble up a lot of YAC. While Kramer and Dent are uber athletic skill position players that bring good physicality. All four of these seniors should be receiving college attention.   Krone threw for over 1100 yards and had 21 touchdowns through the air. He also rushed for nearly 400 yards and had 11 additional touchdowns on the ground. He was just as effective from his defensive end position, where he had 8.0 sacks and multiple interceptions on the season. As for Kramer he had over 1500 total offensive yards on the season and also chipped in 25 total touchdowns. Defensively he had over 70 tackles and 6 interceptions.   Other players of note for Ell-Saline are senior Lucas Correa (5-foot-11, 160-pounds), junior Brandon Gosvener (6-foot-3, 190-pounds), junior Jaxsen Sneed (5-foot-9, 170-pounds) and junior Julian Roche (6-foot-0, 185-pounds).   As for the Leopards of Lincoln they come into this season with their main skill position players actually coming from the junior class. Upfront they have very good size and are senior led.   Leading the way for the Leopards are a trio of juniors in twins [player_tooltip player_id='1113297' first='Jeremiah' last='Miller'] (6-foot-1, 200-pounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='1113161' first='Xavier' last='Miller'] (6-foot-1, 185-pounds) and also Ben Bell (6-foot-1, 190-pounds). Along the lines they are led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1566706' first='Brody' last='Shearer'] (6-foot-0, 275-pounds) and Easton Good (6-foot-5, 255-pounds).   Others to keep an eye on for Lincoln are seniors Kolton Meyer (5-foot-10, 175-pounds) and Austin Ahring (6-foot-0, 190-pounds).   Overall this game was a back and forth affair. While Ell-Saline went into half with the lead, they knew no lead was safe with Lincoln's aerial attack.   We kicked off the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Reese Krone with 4:54 in the first quarter. The 2-point conversion was not successful and our score was 6-0 Ell-Saline.   Lincoln answered right back with a 5-yard touchdown run by [player_tooltip player_id='1113297' first='Jeremiah' last='Miller'] with 10:00 in the second quarter. Once again the 2-point conversion was no good. Our score was now a 6-6 tie.   With 8:04 in the second quarter, [player_tooltip player_id='1113297' first='Jeremiah' last='Miller'] struck again with a 44-yard touchdown pass to his twin [player_tooltip player_id='1113161' first='Xavier' last='Miller']. Yet another unsuccessful 2-point conversion and our score was now 12-6 Lincoln.   The Cardinals had their own answer when Reese Krone found Collin Dent with a 34-yard touchdown pass with 4:27 left in the half. 2-point conversion was yet again no good and our score was tied back up 12-12.   The scoring really started to pick up and [player_tooltip player_id='1113297' first='Jeremiah' last='Miller'] had his third score of the night when he found Ben Bell on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 3:28 in the second quarter. Once again we saw a failed 2-point conversion and our score was now 18-12 Lincoln.   Ell-Saline countered very quickly with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Reese Krone to [player_tooltip player_id='1618530' first='Kas' last='Kramer'] with 3:15 left in the half. The 2-point conversion was successful and our score was now 20-18 Ell-Saline.   Right before half the Cardinals stretched their lead out further with a 6-yard touchdown run by Reese Krone with :55 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Yet another successful 2-point conversion and we neared half-time with a 28-18 Ell-Saline lead.   The Cardinals had the ball coming out of half but was not able to stretch their lead out further. Lincoln quickly got back into the game with a 3-yard touchdown run by [player_tooltip player_id='1113297' first='Jeremiah' last='Miller'] with 7:46 in the third quarter. The 2-point conversion was good and our score was now 28-26 Ell-Saline.   Lincoln once again regained the lead with yet another [player_tooltip player_id='1113297' first='Jeremiah' last='Miller'] touchdown. This time it was another 3-yard touchdown run with 2:07 left in the third quarter. The 2-point conversion was no good and our score was 32-28 Lincoln.   With 1:26 in the third quarter the Leopards came up huge with a Ell-Saline fumble and a recovery by defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1566706' first='Brody' last='Shearer']. That momentum was short lived as next play Reese Krone picks off [player_tooltip player_id='1113297' first='Jeremiah' last='Miller'] and brings it back 45-yards for a pick-6. The 2-point conversion was successful and our score was now 36-32 Ell-Saline. This was the last time the Cardinals would hold a lead in this game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1113297' first='Jeremiah' last='Miller'] secured his sixth touchdown of the ballgame with 10-yard touchdown pass to Ben Bell with 9:21 left in this contest. After a successful 2-point conversion, our score was now 40-36 Lincoln.   With 6:02 left in the fourth quarter Lincoln stops Reese Krone and Ell-Saline on downs on 4th and 1.   [player_tooltip player_id='1113297' first='Jeremiah' last='Miller'] capitalizes with his seventh and final touchdown of the night with a 18-yard touchdown scamper with 4:14 left in our ballgame. Though the 2-point conversion was no good and gave the Cardinals a little life. Our score was now 46-36 Lincoln   On the ensuing kick-off, Ell-Saline muffed the squib and [player_tooltip player_id='1113297' first='Jeremiah' last='Miller'] recovers with 4:12 in the fourth quarter. When it looked like Lincoln could just coast to victory, Reese Krone hits Trey Williams on a 25-yard touchdown pass with :51 seconds left in our ballgame. The Cardinals gave themselves further life with a successful 2-point conversion. The score was now 46-44 Lincoln.   Ell-Saline attempted a on-side kick but the ball went out of bounds and short of 10-yards. Lincoln was able to knell for the victory.   With the win Lincoln (10-1) moves on to the semifinals where they will face rival Sylvan-Lucas (10-1) for a trip to state in Greensburg. The Mustangs came out victorious 50-44 over Little River in their ballgame. During their week seven matchup, Lincoln beat Sylvan-Lucas 62-36. Ell-Saline ends their season with a 9-2 record.   I'll be on the road to SE Saline (11-0) for my next scouting opportunity. The defending 2A state champs will be hosting Hoisington (10-0) for a trip to Hutchinson. I saw Hoisington week one when they took care of Pratt (9-2) 34-8.

As we go further in the play-offs the stakes and the matchups get bigger and better. We are to the point where anyone who is playing this far into the fall are legit state title contenders. Both Ell-Saline and Lincoln came into this playoff contest with only one loss on the resume. Ell-Saline fell to the #1 team in 8-Man II in Hanover 32-8 in week one. Lincoln on the other hand was undefeated until they slipped up against Clifton-Clyde 48-44 in week eight district action.