The Lincoln Christian Crusaders will square off against the Central City Bison at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Lincoln Christian is headed into the contest out to prove that what happened against Milford on Thursday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. The Crusaders lost 44-22 to the Eagles. The Crusaders have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Although Lincoln Christian took the loss, they still got scores from Kade Stryker, Matthew Witt, and Jamison Thies.
Meanwhile, Central City strolled into their game on Friday with a perfect record and they left with the same. They blew past Adams Central 56-27. Given the Bison's advantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska football rankings (they are ranked fifth, while the Patriots are ranked 53rd) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Central City had a senior duo take command as Parker Zikmund threw for 360 yards and seven touchdowns while completing 79.3% of his passes and Jacob Brazee picked up 186 receiving yards and four scores. Brazee's longest reception was for an incredible 78 yards. Corbin Kyes helped Zikmund out on the ground, rushing for 100 yards, while also picking up 46 receiving yards and one TD.
One reason for the win was Central City's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Damien Malachias, Luke McHargue, and Parker Santin, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Lincoln Christian now has a losing record of 2-3. As for Central City, their victory bumped their record up to 5-0.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Lincoln Christian has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 248.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Central City struggles in that department as they've been averaging 157.2 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Lincoln Christian couldn't quite finish off Central City in their previous meeting back in October of 2024 and fell 52-50. Will the Crusaders have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
