Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

LINCOLN CHRISTIANCRUSADERS
By: Kevin Sjuts
A 72-point outburst in Lincoln
Christian’s final game of 2016
sends the Crusaders surging into
the 2017 season. The Crusaders
ended last year with a bang,
defeating Southern by 40 points
and breaking multiple Class C1
records. Most notably, quarterback
Treyson Bigler passed for 439
yards and seven touchdowns,
both Class C1 single-game highs.
The mid-October win punctuated
a late-season turnaround for
Lincoln Christian, which ended
the year on a three-game winning
streak. Now, the Crusaders have
their eyes set on playing beyond
October in 2017.
“If we can stay healthy and
develop some linemen, I think we
can turn the corner this year and
be a playoff team,” head coach
Kurt Earl said.
Earl is entering his second year
as Lincoln Christian’s head
coach. His inaugural season had
some highs and lows, but the
energetic leader never wavered
in his optimism. Earl believes he
has a talented roster that can end
the school’s three-year playoff
drought.
The Crusaders’ personnel features
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Crusaders
Class: C1
2016 Record: 4-5
Playoff Appearances: 8
Head Coach: Kurt Earl
Career Record: 4-5
Assistant Coach: Wade Houchin
many proven playmakers, which
could provide many high-scoring,
highlight-filled games this fall.
Bigler, who stands 6-foot-3, will
be in his second-year as the
Crusaders’ starting quarterback.
“Treyson got off to a rough start
last year,” Earl said. “But he came
back strong. He appears to be
poised to have a breakout senior
year.”
Bigler’s productivity is aided by
a pair of talented wide receivers.
Reid Houchin is a FCS and NCAA
Division II prospect, as well as
Alex Schreiner. The wideout
duo combined for 17 receiving
touchdowns last fall. “Alex is
probably the quickest, most
explosive player I’ve coached
in my 12 years of coaching high
school football,” Earl said. The
LCHS head coach describes
Houchin as a “football junkie.”
Lincoln Christian has starters back
at 17 different positions. Junior
Hunter Hohlen (6’ 165 lbs) adds
depth to the receiving corps, along
with classmate Trent Lockard (6’1”
150 lbs). Joe Dworak will likely be
the Crusaders’ featured running
back for the second straight
season. Dworak finished with six
rushing touchdowns, which all
occurred over the final four games
of his sophomore campaign.
Line play remains the biggest
question mark for Lincoln
Christian in 2017. Logan
Schluckebier (6’1” 210 lbs) is the
Crusaders’ most experienced
player up front. Isaiah Young
(5’11” 210 lbs), Max McEwen (6’
200 lbs), and Abram Stewart (5’11”
210 lbs) will also be leaders along
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 Omaha Concordia
9/1 Wahoo
9/8 @ Lincoln Lutheran
9/15 @ Falls City
9/22 Fairbury
9/29 Raymond Central
10/6 @ Ashland-Greenwood
10/13 @ Milford-Dorchester
10/20 Southern
the line.
Defensively, Lincoln Christian
allowed 29 points per game last
season. With a high number of
returning players, Earl is hoping
his team can be more disciplined
and limit opponents’ big plays.
Lincoln Christian plans on playing
all its home games at the school’s
campus in southeast Lincoln this
year. The Crusaders twice played
at LCHS in 2016, after previously
playing its home games at Abel
Stadium or Beechner Field.
Playing on the school grounds
created a noticeable buzz
across the Lincoln Christian
community. The school had to
bring in additional bleachers
and a scoreboard for its home
games. Now knowing the logistics
of hosting a game at Lincoln
Christian, the school plans to play
there five times this fall.
Key Players:
Treyson Bigler (6’3” 180 lbs) Sr.
QB/LB
Alex Schreiner (5’11” 175 lbs) Sr.
WR/DB
Joe Dworak (5’7” 175 lbs) Jr. RB/
LB
122 2017 Prepzone Pigskin Preview www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 123