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By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer
Lincoln, Mo — Eight years after the first varsity football game was played in Lincoln and six years after the Cardinals’ varsity program closed the books on a second consecutive winless season, undefeated Lincoln is headed to the Class 1 state semifinals.
The Cardinals topped Midway, 46-0, on Saturday afternoon, speeding through the fourth quarter on a running clock with its starters resting comfortably on the sidelines.
For those who have grown up inside and around the Lincoln program, this is a special moment. That much could be seen in the faces of the crowd and heard in the words from the face of the program, quarterback Boone Kroenke.
“I’ve been around since the program was started,” Kroenke said. “I never imagined we’d be here today. It’s an awesome feeling. We’ve worked really hard ever since I was a freshman, and this has been our goal ever since, to win a district championship and go on further. It’s just euphoric. It’s awesome.”
Lincoln (13-0) made the medicine go down for Midway (11-2) the same way it has on a weekly basis for each of its opponents, with a spoonful of Kroenke and a shot to the arm from a relentless defense.
Yes, the Cardinals dress in red, but they see it, too. This season, Lincoln is both the bull and the matador.
CLICK HERE FOR MIDWAY VS. LINCOLN PHOTOS
“The group of kids we have this year is just fantastic,” Lincoln coach Danny Morrison said. “Most of the seniors we have were starting as freshmen. They’re a great group of kids. They play hard. Some of that stuff you can’t teach as a coach. That drive and fire is all built up inside.”
That fiery senior class is led by Kroenke, the Cardinals’ dynamic quarterback who has established himself as one of the top dual threats in Class 1, and maybe beyond.
“Early in the season, all we’re thinking is, ‘Get him to the playoffs without getting hurt,’” Morrison said. “So, for us as coaches, to let him loose now. Let him run. Let him throw. Let him do what he does and make plays. It’s fun.”
Kroenke made football fun for anyone dressed in red on Saturday, rushing for 118 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries in three quarters. Kroenke also connected with Blake Roberts on a 30-yard touchdown pass, finishing 6-8 for 87 yards, a touchdown and an interception through the air.
“When I looked at the film most of the week, I could see [Midway had] big guys,” Kroenke said. “I knew we’d most likely be faster than them. I could see they would be lining up in the gaps a lot of the time and would shift gaps most of the time, so I could call audibles at the line [and adjust].”
Those adjustments turned into 327 rush yards for the Cardinals on 40 carries. Junior halfback Derek Stephens ended up leading Lincoln with 156 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries, including a 58-yard touchdown burst late in the third quarter to put Lincoln up 46-0.
The only touchdown strike on Saturday came from Kroenke’s arm to the hands of senior wingback Blake Roberts on a 30-yard wheel route.
“Hats off to our offensive line,” Morrison said. “They kept people out of the backfield. Our receivers made some great catches and ran good routes. Just a phenomenal game.”
But as fun as the Lincoln offense is to watch, this team’s identity exists as much in its defense. Saturday was Lincoln’s third shutout in four postseason games and sixth shutout of the season, dropping their points-against average to 6.1 per game.
The defense took center stage when junior Dominic Simmons hit Midway quarterback Blake Mincks square in the back, knocking the ball loose and letting Tyler Kroenke go 70 yards for a touchdown after recovering the fumble. That defensive score extended Lincoln’s lead to 24-0 in the second quarter.
“We put a lot of emphasis on turnovers,” Morrison said. “We’re just lining them up and letting them play aggressive.”
Lincoln faces a long trip to Monroe City (10-3) next Saturday for a spot in the Class 1 title game, which would take place in Springfield.
“We’ve done beyond that we’ve expected,” Kroenke said. “We just work really well together. All us guys have been together since we’ve been tiny. Our whole team has bonded together and we’re just like a family.”
Lincoln finished with 414 total yards of offense to Midway’s 159. Midway managed just 42 total yards in the second half. Peyton Richardson led Midway with 40 yards on nine carries.
The Lincoln defense completely shut down Midway’s passing game, holding Mincks to 3-11 passing and 52 yards.
SCORING
Lincoln 8 22 16 0
Midway 0 0 0 0
1st Quarter
8:32 — Boone Kroenke, 2-yard run [2-PT GOOD] — 8-0 LHS
2nd Quarter
8:46 — Boone Kroenke, 6-yard run [2-PT GOOD] — 16-0 LHS
4:48 — Tyler Kroenke, 70-yard fumble return [2-PT GOOD] — 24-0 LHS
1:18 — Boone Kroenke 30-yard pass to Blake Roberts [2-PT FAIL] — 30-0 LHS
3rd Quarter
4:44 — Boone Kroenke 1-yard run [2-PT GOOD] — 38-0 LHS
0:30 — Derek Stephens 58-yard run [2-PT GOOD] — 46-0 LHS
4th Quarter
N/A
