Aberdeen Central's 5-game win streak ends, but Eagles to host first playoff game since '09
The Aberdeen Central football team had already solidified its Class 11AA playoff spot going into Thursday night's game against Sioux Falls Lincoln at Brownell Activities Complex.
That said, Lincoln showed how it had established its own Class 11AAA playoff spot by routing the Golden Eagles 42-7.
The Patriots scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions, and quarterback Tate Schafer showed that he is one of the best in the state.
The Eagles came up short on a fourth down and one on their first possession of the game, giving the Patriots good field position at the Central 41 yard. Lincoln took eight plays to score on Schaefer's first touchdown pass of the night to Isaac Carazo to make it 7-0.
After the Eagles were forced to punt on their next possession, Lincoln put together a 12-play drive that culminated with Schafer connecting with Jack Smith on a 20-yard touchdown pass. On Lincoln's next possession, it took only two plays before Isaac Jarovski hauled in a Schafer pass and ran 57 yards down the sideline to put the Patriots up 21-0. Jarovski then made a 15-yard circus catch in tight coverage to put the Patriots up 28-0.
And that's how it went Thursday in a game that couldn't improve or worsen Central's No. 3 playoff seed.
The Golden Eagles showed some life by putting together a drive that landed them in Lincoln territory for the first time late in the half. Quarterback Dustin Hermansen connected with Cooper Eisenbeisz on a 35-yard pass to the Lincoln 35. But on the next play, Hermansen was intercepted by Lincoln's Sawyer Tolk. Schafer found receiver Samuel Hindbjorgen just two plays later to put the Patriots up 35-0 at halftime.
Lincoln opened the second half with a seven-play touchdown drive that finished with a pass to Trenton Peterson to round out the Patriot scoring.
The Eagles got on the board in the fourth quarter after driving 75 yards behind running back Karson Carda, who took the ball in from the two-yard line to make it 42-7. He finished with 87 rushing yards on the night, putting him over 1,000 for the season.
Lincoln finished with 436 total yards, and Schafer completed 17 of 23 passes for 231 yards.
Despite the loss, Central Coach Justin Briese kept a positive outlook.
"They understood that hosting a playoff game was a good possibility. They're really focused to get back on track and play the way that we can play," he said.
The Eagles (5-4) will host Spearfish next Thursday in their first home playoff game since 2009. Central has the No. 3 seed in the 11AA field.
"It's going to be a great atmosphere," Briese said. "Hopefully everybody comes out."
Lincoln, now 6-3, is the No. 4 seed in 11AAA and hosts Brandon Valley in a first-round playoff game.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Sioux Falls Lincoln defeated Aberdeen Central 42-7 in prep football
