Football Preview: Lincoln has sights set on PVL title

A late touchdown in the first round of the playoffs ended Lincoln's season last year, and that loss has stuck with the Fighting Zebras all offseason. The Zebras were in the weight room the Monday after the loss, using it as fuel to ensure that they would not be in that position again this fall. The hard work has paid off, as Lincoln coach Allen Berg says that this team has championship expectations with a deep core of veteran players from a team that won seven games last fall and was a single goal-line stand away from making a playoff run. "We have added size, speed and strength since last year. The competitive culture is at a different level as well," said Berg. "We also have depth which was lacking last year. This group also brings a lot of energy each day in practice. We are looking forward to a very competitive year. "This is definitely where we want to be," said senior safety and four-year varsity player Brock. "We've been rebuilding, but now we're ready to fight for a league title." That confidence comes from experience. Lincoln boasts multiple three- and four-year starters, including quarterback Eli Duff, who enters his third season as the starter after throwing for over 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024. Berg says Duff has taken another leap forward this offseason. "We are very happy with his progression," said Berg of Duff. " Last year, he was on it, he was quick with his reads and he got the ball out really fast. That's why his completion percentage was high and his touchdown to interception ratio was good. This year he's even faster. His arm strength has improved dramatically and I think the confidence that he has in his arm now makes it so he's able to throw through small windows on deep balls." Berg credits much of Duff's growth to going against one of the strongest defenses in the area during practice. "The windows are tiny," Berg said. "It's made him sharper, and it's going to pay off." Lincoln's roster is filled with versatile athletes. Brock Galer has played nearly every position on both sides of the ball. This season, the four-year starter anchors the secondary at safety and says that his versatility gives him more confidence since he knows everyone's assignment on the field. "I'm able to make plays in the secondary but also come down to the box and play the run like I'm used to," said Galer. "It definitely makes me feel good about making the switch." Galer says that there is a buzz around this year's team that he hasn't seen in recent years and he believes that Lincoln will be a contender in the PVL. "We definitely have more people that are willing to give it all and that's really helping. We have a lot more people that are committed to work in the weight room. We should be a bigger, stronger, faster team in general that's going to be able to make another run in the playoffs," said Galer. "This is definitely where we want to be." Others to watch include receivers Bryan Redding and Aiden Trombatore, two-way starter Cody Lowe and sophomore quarterback, defensive back and receiver Mason Volzer Returning from injury are playmakers Marcus Stacy and Dylan Knell, both expected to make immediate impacts. The Zebras have been putting in work since the day after last year's heartbreaking playoff loss to El Dorado. Berg says the difference is visible. "Their attitude is different. They've been all-in in the weight room. They're bigger, stronger, faster, and focused." Galer believes that the work that was put in in the offseason will pay off, saying, "We gave it a run last year and we come back with even more experience and everyone's ready to just smack heads this year. Everyone better watch out for that."