By Chris Parker
Lincoln football will have a whole new look coming off an 11-2 season with zero offensive and two defensive starters returning.
The Cardinals were a more run-focused attack last season rushing for 3,302 yards and passing for 1,775. Junior Camden Everhart and sophomore Anthony Srader will handle the ball carrying duties this season.
Everhart, who was an all-district selection at linebacker as a sophomore, rushed for 58 yards on 11 carries last year.
“Camden Everhart is a two-year starter and is poised to have a big year for us both offensively and defensively,” Lincoln head coach Brad Drehle said.
Srader is the team’s leading returning rusher after he took 41 carries for 201 yards.
“Anthony Srader is a physical athlete that saw significant time for us on offense and defense and is ready,” Drehle said.
Riley Sanders will start at quarterback in his sophomore season.
“Riley Sanders is a talented kid who started at safety for us last season and is ready to assume the quarterback duties full time,” Drehle said. “He filled in for Connor Lynde last year when he was injured.”
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Sanders passed for 118 yards and rushed for 58 in limited action as a freshman.
Chase Young (junior), Dawson Parrott (sophomore), Elijah Smith (sophomore), Everhart and Braydn Benham (sophomore) are all in the mix at wide receiver with Everhart also at tight end.
“Dawson Parrott is very athletic and will play a big role in what we do on both sides of the ball along with special teams,” Drehle said. “Chase Young was a part time starter last year on defense and is one of our fastest kids we look for him to have a breakout season.”
Sophomores Ben Eckhoff, Isaac Komm, Ashton Wolfe, Josh Kauffman and Ethan Goosen along with juniors Myles Harms and Matthew Cook will be on the offensive line.
“Ben Eckhoff is a big kid and a weight room kid. He saw time on the offensive and defensive line a year ago, and we expect him to be one of our leaders,” Drehle said. “Ashton Wolfe is a little undersized for a lineman but makes up for it with speed and athleticism. He played significant minutes for us on defense last season on the defensive line and filled in on the offensive line.”
Defensively, two total starters return.
Eckoff, Komm, Wolfe, Cook and Harms will be on the defensive line.
Everhart will anchor the linebacking corps. He had 68 total tackles with 12 tackles for a loss and nine sacks last season. Srader, Benham and Smith will also be at linebacker.
Sanders, Parrott and Young will be in the secondary.
Youth will rule the day for Lincoln this season.
“We are young and small in number, but we feel like we are athletic,” Drehle said. “Our goal is to improve every week of the season. We are excited with this group of young men and what we can accomplish. We would like to see them grow as players and as a team and be ready to contend when districts roll around.”
Lincoln will host a jamboree on Aug. 18 with Midway, Adrian, Sherwood and Butler before opening the regular season on Aug. 25 at home against Lone Jack.
