Tyree Waller scores five touchdowns in Lincoln's 51-29 win over Skyline
Lincoln wide receiver Tyree Waller celebrates one of his five touchdowns during the Railsplitters' 51-29 win over Skyline on Friday.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com
The football field at Skyline High School was Tyree Waller’s world on Friday night.
Everyone else was just living in it.
The Lincoln senior wide receiver caught seven passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns and also scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground while rushing for 81 yards in the Railsplitters’ 51-29 win over Skyline.
Waller provided big plays in the passing game early in what looked like it might turn into a shootout. And when coach Chris Westfall needed a horse to kill the clock -- and the will of the Skyline defense -- he put Waller in at tailback and ran him out of a two-fullback, full-house package.
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It was the first time the Central Michigan commit had played running back in a game situation and he rushed for 81 yards on nine carries.
"Our offensive line was great they blocked well," Waller said. "This is the first time we ran (the full house) in a game, but it worked out well."
Lincoln's Tyree Waller, pictured above separating Percell Franklin from the ball on a tackle, made significant contributions on both sides of the ball.
The night didn’t start well for Skyline (1-2, 0-1 SEC Red), with Lincoln defensive back Dalauren Roberson intercepting quarterback Askaree Crawford's his first pass attempt of the game, giving Lincoln a short field to work with. Javin Kilgo hit Waller for a 28-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-13 to give the Railsplitters an early 6-0 lead.
Kilgo would hook-up with Waller five more times in the half, once for a 17-yard score and another for 45 yards to set up a short touchdown run by Waller. Waller had 142 yards receiving and three touchdowns - two receiving one rushing - in the first half.
The Skyline offense went blow-for-blow with Lincoln in the first half, led by Crawford who showed off his running ability by turning many broken plays into long runs. Crawford rushed for 88 yards on eight carries in the half, including a 34-yard touchdown run with a minute to play in the half to bring Skyline within one touchdown of the lead.
Though the Eagles trailed 28-14 at the break after Lincoln (3-0, 1-0 SEC White) was able to score with just three-tenths of a second remaining in the second quarter, the Eagles started the third quarter by stopping Lincoln three-and-out and scored on the following to drive to make the score 28-21.
But Crawford was unable to be as explosive as he was in the first half after the break because of one huge factor: Lincoln senior linebacker Bryton Boyle.
Boyle, who was injured early in the first quarter and sat out the remainder of the half, returned in the third.
With Boyle back in the game, the holes that were opening for Crawford earlier were violently filled by Boyle. In the third quarter, Crawford pivoted in the backfield and looked to turn up field, but instead of open space it was Boyle waiting for him.
"I originally didn’t think I was going to play for the rest of the game because I was hurting pretty bad," Boyle said. "Once I got a decent hit in, I think it hyped up the team, hyped up the crowd and got our momentum back."
Crawford had just four rushes in the second half, all for losses, and Lincoln scored 23 straight points, including a safety, before Skyline got on the scoreboard again.
"I looked at J.T. Bolden, our other inside backer and I said to him 'you guys were like Starsky without Hutch there for a while. You lost your partner,'" Westfall joked. "(Boyle's) the leader and we really couldn’t bring inside pressure the way we like to do with out him."
"(Boyle's return) made a big difference…I think the kid is a good linebacker and their D-line played pretty well. They just got a pretty good defense," said Skyline coach Lee Arthur.
Crawford finished with 71 rushing yards on 12 carries and completed 11-of-21 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
Kilgo finished 10-for-17 for 217 yards and three touchdowns.
Each team committed ten penalties, respectively, and had a combined 155 penalty yards.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
boo
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 : 6:34 p.m.
I got to see this one in person. Not sure who is worse, Huron or Skyline. I guess we'll find out in a couple weeks. But Lincoln looked very good tonight. And yes, skyline looked like disorganized all night. Should have gone to see Pioneer play Dexter but I knew that would be a blow out. Didn't feel like making the long drive to see Huron get destroyed by Tecumseh. What is happening to football in Ann Arbor. I thought Huron and Pioneer used to be very good programs. I know Skyline is a new school, but they look like they are heading in the wrong direction.
Thoughtful
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 : 1:59 p.m.
Football 101: if your quarterback is getting sacked, your O line isn't getting it done. If its broke, FIX it Skyline! Also, get your ineligible kids cracking those books so they can actually play soon- not taking away obviously NEEDED practice time from the kids who have the brains to maintain a 2.0 (or more)!!!
Thoughtful
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.
Lincoln did play well, and it comes from the coach. From what I understand, Coach Westfall leads well, and his team follows. You have to have high standards, teach the team effectively, give respect to get it,and not be on a power trip. Skyline has a rotating door for coaches, changing each year. The lottery to get into Skyline now is a waste of time, since no one applies. 101 applicants for 100 spots. They took them all. If a kid isn't academically eligible, why not limit his time to attend practice to two days per week, if at all, with the other two spent at study hall or with a tutor? And if the kid tanks his grades in the spring, he/she MUST attend summer school, or they can't join the team. Period. No college is going to look at giving a kid a sports scholarship if they can't keep their grades up to a minimum in high school.
bull3058
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 : 5:58 p.m.
Not just the O line not getting it done or ineligible players. Lincoln was the better team, they played better and deserved the win
say it plain
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.
If the AAPS Varsity Sports programs spent some money on *academic support* programs for their student athletes, then *that* would be good spending (if somewhat unfair to the kids who don't play). I wonder if they do, but since they won't ever tell us for real how they spend their money on these programs, I can only hope some of the bucks earned by the ADs at each of the three Varsity-Sports high schools gets spent on their keeping track of the academic progress of their athletes and making sure help is provided where needed. I recall seeing a piece in this outlet where a kid who played for Pioneer and who was heading to UM for college and college football was actually an official "alum:" of Community High School. His father insisted he take the spot he won in their lottery because he wanted to make sure that his son succeeded academically, and he felt that Pioneer would not facilitate that at all while CHS would. A pretty telling indictment, I thought, of the scene at the big schools regarding the academic support offered to potential and actual student-athletes!
PC Stone
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 : 11:27 a.m.
I wonder if it's the uniforms. They look like the Lions' jerseys. When the Lions weren't doing so well neither was Lincoln. Now it's the opposite. Lincoln is looking good to make another playoff run.
glimmertwin
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 : 9:30 a.m.
Another interesting fact is that Lincoln is 3-0 and hasn't even played at home yet. Impressive.
Sheri
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 : 2:40 a.m.
Great Job Lincoln!! All 3 teams - Freshman, JV & Varsity beat Skyline!! Keep up the great work!! The Lincoln Community is cheering for you :)
bull3058
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.
The last two season are showing if the students buy into what the coaches are doing Lincoln CAN be successful in sports. Lincoln is having success in other sports also not just in football. Work hard in the classroom and on the athletic field and good things will happen. It takes hard work.