Johnie Logue
Sports Reporter
Well, the Benton County Class 1 football game of the decade is in the annals of time.
A raging wind died down right before game time but a cold Friday night still greeted both contestants as they emerged from their locker rooms. At the final horn, the bundled up crowd witnessed sixth ranked Lincoln defeat the ninth ranked Cole Camp Bluebirds, 38-20 in a game for the ages to win the MSHSAA Class 1, District 5 Championship in Lincoln.
It was the first time these two neighboring programs ever met in a title game.
The boys in blue won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
Lincoln's initial drive of the game stalled at the 45, only to have Connor Lynde's punt roll dead at the Bluebirds 1-yard line, pinning Cole Camp deep on their end of the field.
On first down, Bluebirds quarterback Ethan Shearer, who dreamed of this match-up all summer long, broke through the line to the 20. On third and six, he scrambled to his left and darted a pass down the sideline line, only to be picked off by Lincoln's Darren Roberts at the 33.
Ross Johnson, who had a game most players daydream about in study hall, pounded the ball to the 16. After a holding call, Cardinals quarterback Connor Lynde, as slick as glass, rolled in from seven yards out for the first touchdown of the game. Lynde lobbed a pass to Kyle Eckhoff that was short of the mark as the 2-point conversion failed, but it was 6-0, Lincoln at the 7:53 mark.
At 5:11 in the opening quarter, the game took a drastic turn as Cole Camp junior running back, the explosive Reid Harrison, injured his arm and left the game with no return. Harrison underwent surgery on Saturday and is expected to be out for six weeks. He also plays basketball, baseball and runs track.
Cole Camp head coach Kevin Shearer was asked about the effect the loss of Harrison had on his game plan.
"Tremendously, in all facets. Offensively, he was more a part of our game plan than ever," Shearer said. "Defensively, in our scheme, he is a big run defender; on special teams, he is always a threat."
On fourth and three, Cole Camp called a time out at the 1:23 mark. On the 17 yard line looking to tie the game, their run came up short and Lincoln took over on downs. The first quarter ended at 6-0.
Johnson took over and bullied his way to the 15. From there, he found a hole and blasted his way for another Cardinals touchdown. This time, the 2-pointer try was good and it was 14-0 at the 3:44 mark of the second period.
With the game looking to slip away, the strong will and determined Ethan Shearer would break free for a 32 yard touchdown run. A nice tackle by Lincoln on the right side prevented the two point conversion, but the score made it 14-6.
Johnson, friends with Shearer since the fourth grade, returned the favor as he battled his way downfield for the next two minutes, only to race in from the four for another touchdown for Lincoln. The 2-point conversion was good at the 1:25 mark and it was 22-6 as the clock closed out the half. Shearer would launch a bomb from the 50 that sailed to the Lincoln three, but Cardinals freshman Riley Sanders came over and helped break up the pass to Cole Camp's Grady Strathman.
Sanders was momentarily shook up but he walked off the field telling everyone he was okay.
As expected, the game was a chess match. Lincoln lined up Lynde at defensive end as he switched from side to side causing havoc for the Bluebirds' offense. With the 6'5" Mack Hesse out, Cardinals head coach Brad Drehle countered with the speedy Lynde.
Coach Shearer commented, "It was a good move putting Lynde at DT."
Lynde, who sat out the week before with a concussion said he was 100%.
"I could have played last week but my parents and I decided to sit that one out," the senior said.
Cole Camp's middle linebacker Owen Ives made big tackle after tackle thrashing scoring opportunities by Lincoln.
In the third, Shearer refused to give up. After a great sack by Lincoln's Christian White, Shearer found an open Preston Oelrichs in the end zone from 28 yards out. Without Harrison to kick extra points, the 2-point conversion became their only option. Shearer would hit paydirt on another pass to Oelrichs, his big tight end, and it was 22-14.
Johnson, who made Lincoln history in this game, wasn't done just yet as he raced in to make it 28-14. Kaleb Mundy trotted in for the 2-pointer and it was 30-14.
At 10:41 of the fourth, Shearer broke another one but the 2-point conversion failed and it was 30-20 as Shearer and company just wouldn't go away.
Johnson would not let up either as he scored his fourth touchdown of the night to make the score, 36-20. On a trick play they practiced all week, Mundy took the handoff and hit Roberts for 2-points and it was 38-20 as the 5:08 on the clock rolled on.
After a nice tackle by Johnson, Roberts sealed the deal with an interception on third and seven from midfield.
Eckhoff got the first down on second and two after an eight yard run.
Lynde took two knees with 1:29 to kill. Cole Camp called two time outs but couldn't change the outcome.
Two facemask calls in the game hurt Cole Camp. Needless to say, the injury to Harrison was also crucial for the Bluebirds.
Johnson broke Derek Stephens all-time rushing record with a 26-186 night. He came into the game just 61 yards short. Johnson is at 261-1,664 for the season and, unoffically, 3,336 for his career.
On getting the record, Johnson said, "I couldn't have done it without my line."
Roberts had two big interceptions and a 2-point reception.
Lynde was 13-108 rushing, Eckhoff was 6-22. Mundy had a 2-point catch and a pass good for 2-points.Mundy was 1-22 receiving. Eckhoff was 1-23 and Roberts 3-46.
Plumb was 4-141 on kickoffs, Ben Eckhoff was 2-69. Lynde was 4-8 for 88 yards passing.
For Cole Camp, Shearer was 23-159 yards and recorded 2 TD's. He passed for 53 yards going 5-10 with 1 score.
Strathman was 9-38, Grant Steenburgen 7-19 and Ben Steenburgen 7-39.
Ives led with 19 tackles. Shearer and Ben Steenburgen had 10 apiece.
Ives also had two big catches for a 2-19 night. Oelrichs had a touchdown on a 28 yard pass and a 2-point reception.
Big Michael Wissman ended his football career after many great blocks on the line for Shearer and the rest of the backfield.
Ethan Shearer had watched a ton of film on Lincoln and the Lincoln coaching staff were aware of Shearer doing his homework so they switched things up to try to slow him down.
Coach Drehle said, "Our line did a great job tonight. Our kids competed hard. Ross came in needing 61 yards to become the all time leading rusher."
He went on to say, "I feel bad for Harrison. He would have made a difference in the game. I feel for Coach Shearer. Losing this time of the year is hard. He loves his players as we do ours."
Asked about coaching his son, Ethan, Coach Shearer said, "I wouldn't trade it for anything. He is exactly what he is suppose to be; tough, resilient and decisive."
On the game, he said, "I am disappointed with the outcome but I am proud of my kids and the men they are turning into."
Cole Camp finished their season at 9-3. Lincoln moved to 11-1 and will travel three and a half hours to face Monroe City, the number one ranked, 12-0, team in the state. Monroe City beat Lincoln in the Final Four a few years back and, ironically, Stephens raced to the four yard line as Boone Kroenke dumped off a short pass on the last play of the game. It will be payback time if Lincoln can knock off the big juggernaut. Monroe City has rolled over everyone in their path this season.
