Lincoln advances to state semifinals with 42-7 win over Washington

The Class 11AAA playoffs began Thursday night at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls with a decisive test for the local teams. Second-seeded Lincoln defeated seventh-seeded Washington 42-7 to secure a spot in the state semifinals. The result erased any uncertainty about the Patriots' readiness for postseason play.

Brody Schafer led the Lincoln offense with a 309-yard, five-touchdown performance. He completed 19 of 25 pass attempts for the 8-2 Patriots. Everett Starks caught five passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns, while Jace Weber added seven receptions for 79 yards and two scores. Jaxton Hanisch contributed 59 receiving yards.

Kellen Blaalid provided a surprise impact on the ground. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound sophomore started at running back due to injuries that left the team short-staffed. Blaalid finished with 116 yards on 20 carries. Lincoln coach Jared Fredenburg said the team had to adjust on the fly after losing players to practice absences that week.

The defense also performed well against the 2-8 Warriors. Jakobe Byrd led Lincoln with six tackles. Ethan Olson recorded five tackles and an interception return for a touchdown. Olson picked off a screen pass by Washington quarterback Javi Vazquez and ran it back eight yards to extend the lead to 27-0 at halftime.

Lincoln controlled the tempo throughout the game. The team finished with 440 total offensive yards and held Washington to 136. Lincoln converted seven of 10 third-down attempts, while Washington converted one of eight. The Patriots averaged 7.9 yards per play and moved the chains 23 times.

Washington scored its only points in the fourth quarter. Kalen Kvistero caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Vazquez at the 2:24 mark of the third quarter, ending the shutout bid. Vazquez completed eight of 13 passes for 53 yards and one interception. Darius Harrison led the Warriors defense with 13 tackles.

Lincoln will face third-seeded Brandon Valley next week in the semifinals at Howard Wood Field. The teams played on Oct. 16, when Lincoln won 34-25. Fredenburg described the upcoming matchup as a slugfest between two good teams with a chance to advance further.