Lincoln edges Dexter for second straight win

By Josh Curmi
Sep. 19, 2009    ·    10:20 a.m.

Despite an early 12-0 deficit, the Lincoln Railsplitters fought back and beat the Dexter Dreadnaughts 33-32 Friday night. The Railsplitters are now 2-2 with their second consecutive victory.

With the offense struggling a key second quarter third down play ignited the Railsplitters. Quarterback Andrew Dillon dropped back and hit fellow senior Marcus Williams with an 82 yard touchdown, making the score 12-7 Dreadnaughts.

Dillon and Williams would have huge nights; Dillon finished 8-17 for 183 yards and three touchdowns through the air and 124 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Williams had 100 yards and one score.

Dexter’s Travis Chafee returned the ensuing kickoff to the Lincoln 30 yard line after a face masking penalty. The splitter defense stood tall with a sack from senior defensive lineman Eric Davis. Lincoln’s big play forced the Dreadnaughts in to a long 44 yard field goal attempt which banged off the left upright.

Dexter’s Mason Mabry would answer with a great play of his own on Lincoln’s next possession.

Mabry intercepted Dillon’s pass over the middle and ran it back 25 yards for a touchdown. Dillon overlooked Mabry, who punctuated the run with a dive across the corner of the goal line. After the second missed point-after attempt, the Dreadnaughts lead 18-6.

After throwing the interception, Dillon came out with great senior leadership and led the splitters to a score with 56.3 seconds remaining in the first half.

On a third and ten Dillon dropped back and saw no receivers open, taking off up the middle and cut down the left sideline for an unbelievable 56 yard touchdown run.

After Lincoln failed on a two-point conversion, Dexter took an 18-13 lead into halftime.

The Railsplitters would bring that momentum out with them to start the second half.

Dillon found senior Ryan Bottoroff in the corner of the end zone rolling out to his right. Bottoroff’s catch capped a six play 80 yard drive that gave the Splitters a 19-18 lead.

Bottoroff wasn’t done. With Dexter threatening on the Lincoln 26 yard line, he ripped through the Dexter offensive line and jumped on a fumbled snap.

Lincoln would capitalize scoring on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Sophomore running back George Miller went virtually untouched with a 25 yard touchdown run give the Railsplitters a 26-18 advantage. Miller wore down the Dreadnaughts running for 119 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown.

Dexter would tie the game on the following drive. Starting on their own 35 yard line, Chaffee put the exclamation point on a ten play 65 yard drive with a six yard touchdown run. The drive included the Dreadnaughts converting on third and seventeen with a 34 yard screen play. A converted two-point conversion knotted the game at 26.

Lincoln marched down the field and had first and goal at the five yard line, a offsides call moved the ball to the two. Dexter forced a fourth and two, where Dillon once again rolled right and found sophomore receiver Kendall Thompson for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:19 left in the game.

Down only one possession and with great field position at the 50 yard line, the Dreadnaughts didn’t panic and didn’t change anything on offense.

Chaffee again crossed the goal line for Dexter with a three yard run; they would decide to go for the win by attempting a two-point conversion.

Crossing the goal line, Chaffee lost control of the football and Lincoln would recover, leaving the Dreadnaughts down 33-32 with 1:45 remaining.

After the Railplitters recovered the onside kick attempt, they would only need one first down to clinch the game. Dillon forced his way through the pile on a third and four to close out the Dreadnaughts.

Lincoln will travel to Chelsea next Friday to play the Chelsea Bulldogs at 7 p.m.