High School Football Preview: Lincoln East Spartans

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) -The Spartans are hitting the field this year with hopes of improving from 2024.

Lincoln East is coming off a 5-5 record. This season, they’re expecting to have some younger guys play bigger roles.

With a tough schedule ahead, head coach John Gingery is hoping the team can rise up against it.

“We got a lot of young kids that are coming back that played a lot last year,” Gingery said. “Hopefully it’s a building block.”

With some younger talent on the field, some seniors are having to lead the way.

That includes starting offensive tackle Connor Dews, who plans on the offense being more disciplined this year.

“I think overall as a unit I’d like us to get under five holding calls,” Dews said. “I want us to be the least penalized team. That’s the biggest thing that killed us a lot last year.”

The Spartans also expect to score more through the air. That is, according to Caleb Wilcox, starting wide receiver and cornerback. It’s one of their goals this season.

“I think we can be really good in the pass game this year,” Wilcox said. “We still need to work on it a bit, but I think we’re going to be good.”

For Gingery, it’s all about honing on in what Lincoln East Football does best.

“If we can start the season by moving the chains, not turning the ball over and playing consistent football and getting better each week, that’s the goal we have this year,” he said.

Lincoln East kicks off its season on Thursday at Elkhorn South.