EIGHT-PLAYER DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
 
LINCOLN (11-1) VS. SOUTH CENTRAL (11-0)
 
11 a.m. Saturday at Kiowa County High School, Greensburg
 

 
MAGICAL SEASON HELPS LINCOLN REACH NEW HEIGHTS 
 
When Lincoln’s dream season hit a brief snag right before the playoffs, it was fair to wonder how the Leopards would react. 

After all, Lincoln was still in search of the school’s first playoff victory. 

“We wanted to have a perfect season, but we didn’t show up against Clifton-Clyde and we lost,” Lincoln coach Colby Hamel said of the 48-44 Week 8 setback. “I think the community was like, ‘Oh, no, right before the playoffs!’ And the coaches were like: ‘What’s going to happen?’”

In retrospect, “that was probably the best thing that happened to us,” Hamel said. “We really shifted gears and showed up hungry.”

Not only did Lincoln regroup to make program history by notching the elusive playoff win, but the 11-1 Leopards are now one step away from completing their remarkable run with a state championship as they gear up to face 11-0 South Central in the Eight-Player Division I title game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Kiowa County High School. 

“It takes good kids, a good community and a hungry mindset, and here we are,” Hamel said. “It’s crazy. I can’t really explain it.”

The seeds for Lincoln’s turnaround were planted during the 2023 season, Hamel’s first year as Leopard coach. Lincoln went 5-4 that year after back-to-back three-win seasons. 

The Leopards followed it up with a 6-3 campaign last year. All three losses were by one possession, including a 42-40 heartbreaker to Little River in the first round of the playoffs. 

“As juniors and seniors now, the experience and the confidence is there,” Hamel said. “They want to try to fix the mistakes of the past. And the coaches are learning, too. We have a young coaching staff and we have to trial and error things sometimes and figure out what works best for our kids. We’re all growing as a team together.”
 
After rolling to wins over Solomon and Oswego in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Leopards made a statement with a 46-44 win over Ell-Saline in the quarterfinals then beat Sylvan-Lucas for the second time on the season with a 48-28 win in the semis. Lincoln jumped out to a 40-14 lead over the Mustangs by halftime. 

“(The Mustangs’) style of football, they get the ball and they’ll run 10 minutes off the clock on 15 plays. It’s hard for a ground-and-pound team to come back if we’re scoring and going back and forth. To come out and score and get a couple stops, I think that’s a huge advantage. 

“We’ve been able to beat (Sylvan-Lucas) the last two times, and I think it’s just about confidence for our guys right now.”

Lincoln is led by twin brothers Jeremiah and Xavier Miller, forming one of the top aerial attacks in the state. Jeremiah has thrown for 2,058 yards and 28 touchdowns with Xavier Miller making 61 catches for 1,155 yards and 15 TDs. Jeremiah has added 1,442 yards and 30 TDs on the ground.

“They are so used to dominating everybody, and then when you are battle-tested, I think it forces you to evaluate yourself individually: What can you do to help your team even more?” Hamel said. 

“I truly think their maturity has been the biggest step, and understanding that if they want to play college football, they have to go out and improve their abilities. Man, they hit the weight room, and that matters. It helps to be bigger and stronger and more physical than your opponent. They’re competitors.”

Fellow junior Ben Bell is another all-around threat for the Leopards. He has 783 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns and has rushed for 503 yards and 6 TDs in addition to being a leader of Lincoln’s defense.  

“His cerebral, athletic mindset helps him be as good as he is. He makes plays that not every kid can make,” Hamel said. “The way he reads things on defense, you can’t teach it.”

Other key players for Lincoln include middle linebacker/tight end Austin Ahring, outside linebacker/offensive lineman Easton Good and offensive/defensive lineman Brody Shearer, who has committed to Friends University. 

South Central will have the experience edge. The Timberwolves were Eight-Player Division II runner-ups to Axtell in 2023 and took an undefeated record into the Division I semifinals last year before falling to eventual champion Hoxie. 

The Timberwolves outlasted Hill City 40-32 in the semifinals. Quarterback Easton Huck directs a balanced offensive attack that features Coda Lindsay in the backfield and Jack Herd at tight end. 

“South Central has a reputation of competing in the postseason, not just in football but in basketball and track,” Hamel said. “We’re going to get South Central’s best effort. 

“The Herd kid is a phenomenal athlete. He can play any position on the field. We’re going to have to be aware where he is on the field at all times. (Huck) is a super shifty playmaker. They have special athletes. We haven’t seen the type of athletic side that they have. And their coach (Brett Westrup) puts the pieces in the right spots like a game of chess. We’ll have to play sound football and play really, really well.

“Our guys are going to be pumped up, especially after the season we’ve had so far.” LINCOLN LEOPARDS (11-1)
 
COACH: Colby Hamel (5th year, 31-16)
 
STATE FINALS HISTORY: First state championship game appearance
 
2025 RESULTS

W,62-14 Ellis
W,68-0 Pike Valley
W,62-14 at Beloit-St. John’s
W,56-6 at Washington County
W,Fft Rock Hills
W,64-6 at Lakeside
W,62-36 Sylvan-Lucas
L,48-44 at Clifton-Clyde
W,48-0 Solomon (P)
W,62-34 Oswego (P)
W,46-44 at Ell-Saline (P)
W,48-28 Sylvan-Lucas (P)
 
2025 STATISTICS
 
TEAM
 
Points scored: 622 (56.5 per game)
 
Points allowed: 226 (20.5 per game)
 
Total offense: 4,886 yards (444.2 per game)
 
Rushing: 2,702 yards (245.6 per game), 49 TDs
 
Passing: 2,184 yards (198.5 per game), 31 TDs, 4 INTs
 
INDIVIDUAL
 
Rushing: Jeremiah Miller (jr.) 163 carries, 1,442 yards, 30 TDs; Benjamin Bell (jr.) 48 carries, 503 yards, 6 TDs; Kolton Meyer (sr.) 45 carries, 404 yards, 6 TDs; Xavier Miller (jr.) 14 carries, 206 yards, 4 TDs.
 
Passing: Jeremiah Miller (jr.) 116 of 190, 2,058 yards, 28 TDs, 3 INTs.
 
Receiving: Xavier Miller (jr.) 61 catches, 1,155 yards, 15 TDs; Benjamin Bell (jr.) 43 catches, 783 yards, 7 TDs.
 
Tackles: Benjamin Bell (jr.) 100 tackles; Jeremiah Miller (jr.) 90 tackles; Austin Ahring (sr.) 90 tackles.
 
Takeaways: Benjamin Bell (jr.) 7 INTs; Easton Good (sr.) 5 INTs.
 
Kicking: none. 
 

 
SOUTH CENTRAL AIMS TO COMPLETE PERFECT SEASON 
 
The Eight-Player Division I classification has featured a number of shakeups this season, but South Central has been the main constant. 

The Timberwolves entered as one of the title favorites and maintained their No. 1 ranking throughout the regular season before navigating a tough playoff path to reach Saturday’s 11 a.m. championship game against Lincoln at Kiowa County High School in Greensburg. 

“One of our sayings is: You’ve got to pay the rent,” South Central coach Brett Westrup said. “No matter where you are ranked in the state in the regular season, that means nothing unless you keep paying rent. You work Monday through Thursday to pay that rent off on Friday. 

“We’re ready to work hard and pay off the rent on Saturday.”

After dominating in the regular season, the Timberwolves (11-0) passed playoff tests against Oberlin-Decatur (60-48), Wichita County (36-28) and Hill City (40-32) to make their second state title games in three seasons. 

The Timberwolves were Division II runners-up to Axtell in 2023 and made the Division I semifinals last year before taking their lone loss against eventual state champion Hoxie. 

“The excitement of the community is unreal,” Westrup said. “When we’re at home the stands are packed. They’re throwing community pep rallies all the time. 

“We had just a ton of fans travel up to Hill City, a 3-hour trip in not very good weather conditions. The support of the community has been tremendous.”

Westrup credited his team’s ability to adapt. In soggy conditions at Hill City, the Timberwolves still managed to throw for 272 yards.

South Central has relied on a balanced offensive attack anchored by quarterback Easton Huck, who has rushed for 1,263 yards and 21 TDs and passed for 1,076 yards and 22 TDs. Coda Lindsay has added 761 rushing yards and 12 TDs while Jack Herd has 35 receptions for 631 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

“Most eight-man teams are good at running, that’s just the beast of eight-man football, and if you can make them one dimensional it’s one half of the battle,” Westrup said. “I didn’t want to be that one-dimensional team, so we’ve become more balanced.”

Lincoln enters 11-1 in a breakthrough season that has produced its first four playoff wins. The Timberwolves will look to slow down a dynamic Lincoln offense led by Jeremiah Miller, Xavier Miller and Ben Bell. 

“To win your first playoff game and then go on to the state title game, that’s impressive,” Westrup said. “They’re loaded with athletes. If there was ever an Eight-Man version of the Air Raid, that’s what Lincoln is. Coach (Colby) Hamel has done a tremendous job of implementing that offense and getting the right kids in the right positions.”

Westrup said keys for the Timberwolves will be controlling the line of scrimmage and getting pressure on Jeremiah Miller at quarterback. 

“They’re a scary team, but we’re up for the challenge and ready to play anybody,” Westrup said.  
SOUTH CENTRAL TIMBERWOLVES (11-0)
 
COACH: Brett Westrup (4th year, 35-10)
 
STATE FINALS HISTORY: 1 state runner-up finish – 2023 (8MII) (Note: Coldwater won 8M I state titles in 1985, 1994 and 1995; Protection won 1A state title in 1978 and 8M II state title in 1983)
 
2025 RESULTS

W,48-6 at Meade
S12 Open
W,44-0 at Laverne (Okla.)
W,58-6 Kiowa County
W,60-6 at Macksville
W,54-0 Udall
W,68-14 at Pratt-Skyline
W,66-20 Oxford
W,64-0 Spearville (P)
W,60-48 Oberlin-Decatur Community (P)
W,36-28 Wichita County (P)
W,40-32 at Hill City (P)
 
2025 STATISTICS
 
TEAM
 
Points scored: 598 (54.4 per game)
 
Points allowed: 160 (14.5 per game)
 
Total offense: 4,015 yards (365.0 per game)
 
Rushing: 2,473 yards (224.8 per game), 44 TDs
 
Passing: 1,542 yards (140.2 per game), 27 TDs, 4 INTs
 
INDIVIDUAL
 
Rushing: Easton Huck (jr.) 122 carries, 1,263 yards, 21 TDs; Coda Lindsay (jr.) 84 carries, 761 yards, 12 TDs; Colt Yoder (jr.) 33 carries, 264 yards, 5 TDs.
 
Passing: Easton Huck (jr.) 59 of 84, 1,076 yards, 22 TDs, 3 INT; Colt Yoder (jr.) 22 of 28, 466 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT.
 
Receiving: Jack Herd (sr.) 35 catches, 631 yards, 14 TDs; Tyler Wayne Pauly (sr.) 17 catches, 424 yards, 5 TDs; Parker Price (jr.) 23 catches, 357 yards, 7 TDs.
 
Tackles: Jack Herd (sr.) 131 tackles (39 solo), 12 tackles for loss, 11 sacks; Colt Yoder (jr.) 79 tackles (15 solo), 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Jack Willems (jr.) 57 tackles (15 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 3 sackes; Parker Price (jr.) 51 tackles (15 solo), 2 tackles for loss; Coda Lindsay (jr.) 49 tackles (14 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks; Easton Huck (jr.) 47 tackles (8 solo); Dakota Thornsberry (jr.) 43 tackles (11 solo), 8 tackles for loss, 5 sacks; Tyler Wayne Pauly (sr.) 36 tackles (10 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 7 sacks; Jett Petty (so.) 27 tackles (6 solo); Eli Girk (jr.) 23 tackles (1 solo); Judd Petty (so.) 21 tackles (3 solo); Cooper Woofolk (jr.) 20 tackles (3 solo).
 
Takeaways: Colt Yoder (jr.) 4 fumble recoveries, 1 INT; Jack Herd (sr.) 2 INTs, 1 fumble recovery; Parker Price (jr.) 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT; Tyler Wayne Pauly (sr.) 2 fumble recoveries, 1 INT; Easton Huck (jr.) 2 INTs; Coda Lindsay (jr.) 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery.
 
Kicking: None.