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by, Andrew Havranek (for Ozarks Sports Zone)
Just 10 years ago, the Lincoln Cardinals didn’t have many sports programs.
“They had soccer only, and ideas of getting football, and that’s where it started,” said Head Football Coach, Kevin Lafavor.
The first two seasons were tough for the Cardinals. They lost every game.
All 20 of them.
“We got down to that third year where we only had 12, 13 kids,” said then-Athletic Director Will Lynde.
Lafavor wasn’t there, but knows that had to be tough.
“I’m sure that was pretty daunting to start with,” Lafavor said.
Despite early struggles, the team didn’t give up. It was focusing on developing a youth program, a critical component for a small-town team.
That program started conditioning kids for the varsity level, and soon, the eventual senior class of 2016, was ready to hit the field.
“They got to winning and it was just kind of meant to be,” Lafavor recalled. “They were that good athletically that they could pick it up late. That’s kind of who built the program for us.”
After that third season, the Lincoln Cardinals played in 68 games. They won 57 of them.
One of the losses came in last year’s Class 1 Championship – a place the team hopes to get back to this year.
“As small as we are, and what we’ve been able to accomplish in those ten years, has been very remarkable,” Lynde said.
Fans of the team, who pack the stadium for Cardinals games, agree, saying this team means a lot to this small, close-knit town.
“About six of these kids have played together since first grade and they’re seniors. I’m as proud of them, as I can be,” said Fred Beaman.
Getting back to that championship game this season isn’t the only thing the Cardinals want to do this year, especially the seniors. They want to walk off that field on December 7th with a state title to bring home.
