‘Went into these games ready to win’: Lincoln Southwest football rides 2-0 record into Week 3 test versus Southeast

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – 39-14 and 43-0.

Those are the two winning scores the Lincoln Southwest football has begun the 2026 season with. Now, a tough test awaits in our Channel 8 Game of the Week, as the Silver Hawks take on Lincoln Southeast Friday night at Seacrest Field.

Senior linebacker Colton Hoy said the team came into the first two games ready to win.

“The past few years at Southwest, I mean, it hasn’t been what we want it to,” Hoy said. “I feel like this year we’re really turning things around, just coming out with that mentality that like we’re not hoping for wins, we’re going to come take them all year.”

It’s been all about the effort shown thus far, as head coach Grant Traynowicz said.

“Guys have been locked in one play at a time, not effected by adversity whether good play or bad play,” Traynowicz said. “They’ve been doing a really good job of moving on.”

Traynowicz said the Silver Hawks have shown improvements throughout both games, and will only look to keep doing so.

“That was one of our big emphasises coming into the season with a lot of guys back,” Traynowicz said. “In the past, we haven’t done a very good job of responding to adversity. So it’s encouraging to see us take it one week at a time and when things haven’t been going well, to be able to come back and make a play.”

The returning core has been vital in helping Southwest pick up the resounding wins in Weeks 1 and 2, Hoy said.

“Skill position wise, we got a lot of returning young talent, a lot of great guys  out there,” Hoy said. “I like the mentality just going out there, wanting to win, wanting to compete, not taking any days off.”

Now with the two lopsided victories, Southwest has not necessarily been tested so far. Traynowicz and Hoy said Friday’s game against the Knights will help them learn even more about their team.

“With a city rivalry, you know, Southeast with their really good skill positions, we’ll be able to see, you know, are we for real?” Traynowicz said. “We’ve been taking it one game at a time, but playing against somebody who knows you really well from a player standpoint and coaching standpoint, I think it will really show a lot about our character.”

“It’ll show the determination we’ve had all summer, all year long,” Hoy said. “We’re not hoping for wins, we’re going to go take it from them and hopefully that’ll show the rest of the season.”

Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. Friday night between the Silver Hawks and the Knights.