By FRED KRONER
Defense set the tone for Mahomet-Seymour’s football team on Saturday (April 3).
Senior Hayden Nelson intercepted a pass on Lincoln’s first possession of an Apollo Conference game, giving the Bulldogs excellent field position.
M-S scored on its initial possession, with senior Skyler Yancy running 15 yards for the first of his four touchdowns. The score came with 9 minutes and 44 seconds left in the opening period.
The Bulldogs never trailed en route to a 42-14 triumph, the team’s first win of the season.
“I’m really proud of our kids,” M-S coach Jon Adkins said. “They battled hard for four quarters and got rewarded.”
Offensively, M-S was so effective running the ball that quarterback Braden Finch attempted just five passes. In the team’s first two games, Finch averaged 20 passes per game.
“We’d like to throw more than five times,” Adkins said, “but when the running game is working so well, you keep feeding the beast.”
Yancy and Finch both eclipsed the 100-yard mark in rushing for the second game in a row.
Yancy averaged more than 10 yards per carry and ran for a team-high 155 yards. Finch was close behind, finishing with 139 yards on the ground. Yancy has gained 392 yards on the ground through three games.
“He reads his blocks well and has another gear once he gets the ball,” Adkins said. “He is tough to bring down.”
Yancy’s TD scampers were on runs of 15, 8, 9 and 46 yards.
Also reaching the end zone for M-S were Finch and Nolan Nierenhausen.
After all six of the Bulldog touchdowns, sophomore Kyle Walmer coverted the extra-point kick.
“He is splitting double duty (with soccer),” Adkins said. “It’s not easy to go from kicking a round ball to an odd-shaped ball.
“Our holder, Braden Houchin, and our short snapper, Brayden Smith, all did a great job, too.”
Finch completed two of his five passes for 12 yards. Both completions were hauled in by Dream Morgan-Eagle.
M-S built leads of 14-0 and 28-7 in the first half.
The Bulldogs amassed 315 rushing yards.
“Hats off to the five guys up front,” Adkins said. “Our linemen are flat-out blocking their tails off.
“We’re getting off the ball, and blocking guys downfield. I’m proud of Coach (Nathan) Sievers and the offensive line group.”
Though Lincoln is winless in three games, the team poses problems in preparation.
“This style (offense) is not something we see week-in and week-out,” Adkins said, referring to the Railsplitters’ double-wing alignment. “It is not easy to prepare for a team like Lincoln with their style of play. A lot of deception and misdirection can cause confusion.
“I’m proud of our kids for staying disciplined and playing assignment football. We held them to 112 yards rushing and got three turnovers defensively that we had to force.”
Besides Nelson’s interception, Ethan Grindley also picked off a pass and Luke Johnson recovered a fumble.
“Ethan is a great team player who has been under the radar,” Adkins said. “He’s always in the right spots. He was a standout.”
Sophomore linebacker Nick Golden reached double figures in tackling for the second time this season. He registered a team-high 13 stops. Freshman Johnson had seven tackles.
Other top M-S tacklers were Grindley, Peyton Myers and Zach Travis, each with three stops.
Noseguard Mateo Casillas saw his first action of the season after returning from an injury and “played well,” according to Adkins. Casillas had two tackles.
One advantage M-S had in its first Saturday game of the year was an enthusiastic cheering section.
“I think we outnumbered the Lincoln people,” Adkins said, “and our cheerleaders were rockin’.”
The Bulldogs (1-2) return to action on Friday at home against Adkins’ alma mater, Charleston (2-1).
“I know some of the kids’ parents, and some of the assistants, but none of the kids,” Adkins said. “I feel we’re playing good football right now, but Charleston is playing well, too.
“There’s no doubt this game means a lot. I want it, but I want it for the kids as well so they can continue the success we’re having.”
