Aberdeen Central faced an uphill battle heading into Friday night’s contest, and a negative game script made the task even more daunting.

The Golden Eagles turned the ball over twice, and fell behind 22-0 in the opening seven minutes on the way to 53-2 non-conference football setback to third-rated Class 11AAA Sioux Falls Lincoln at Brownell Activities Complex.

“You tip your hat to Lincoln. They’re a well-coached team. They’re big, they’re physical and they get after you,” said Central coach Justin Briese. “They got two interceptions right away and kind of get the ball rolling in their direction. We just couldn’t get things going offensively. Defensively, we played a good game and made them work for what they got.”

The Patriots picked off passes on Central’s first two possessions, the first of which resulted in a 15-yard return for a touchdown.

After the Golden Eagles failed to get a first down on their next possession, the visitors tacked on another TD off a short field and the margin swelled to 22-0 with 5:02 left in the opening quarter.

The Patriots added another touchdown on the first play of the second quarter before Central began to gain some traction through the air.

“We really tried to establish the run game early, but it just didn’t work out,” said Central junior receiver Karson Borge. “They have a big D-line, credit to them. But we ended up passing the ball. I thought we did well.”

Borge led the Golden Eagles in receptions and yards, as he continues his rapport with fellow junior quarterback Brayden Bowman.

“Growing up with Bowman, I’m able to have a better connection with him,” Borge said. “Middle school, start of seventh grade, I’ve been the go-to guy for him.”

Briese said the Golden Eagles were trying to find matchups to their liking against the Lincoln defense.

“We were looking at matchups and who was on the other side of the ball and who was there, and who we could match up with secondary-wise,” Briese said. “And get the matchups that we want and get them in the coverage that we expected them to be in, and those kind of things happen. But then if that’s all you’re going to do, it makes it kind of a little bit tough.”

Central pieced together its only drive of the game early in the second period, as the Golden Eagles moved from their own 43 down to the Lincoln 10 in 17 plays, but were stopped at the 5-yard line on fourth down.

While the drive did not produce any points, it left the Patriots just outside their goal line and when Central forced a three-and-out, Lincoln snapped the ball out of the end zone on its punt attempt for a Golden Eagles safety.

However, Central could never slow down Lincoln’s offense, which produced 24 more points the rest of the way.

“They’ve got a good offensive scheme. They do some RPO (run, pass, option) stuff. (Their quarterback is) looking where guys are lined up and if they’re lined up here, we’re going to run it, and if we’re they’re lined up there, we’re going to pass it,” Briese said. “They did a good job of that press-snap stuff figuring out what they want to do, just getting the matchups they want, whether it’s running or passing.”

In the end, it left Central without enough solutions to contain the Patriots.

“You just have to give it your all, try your best,” said Central senior linebacker Caden Shatto.

While it marked the final home game for the Golden Eagles, it is far from their last game of the year. Central heads to Watertown on Thursday to conclude the regular season, and then will likely be in the playoffs after that.

“I’m going to remember this and use it as motivation for my next game,” Shatto said.

It appears that Golden Eagles found something in the passing game that could be beneficial in the weeks ahead.

“Definitely, we have a pass game established now,” Borge said. “I think it’s going to be a big opening for our run game, and we can bounce off that.”

Briese said it will be back to business as soon as today for his squad.

“We’ll get together (Saturday), we’ll get our lift in and we’ll watch film, and we’ll evaluate,” Briese said, “and like we talked about every week, it doesn’t matter whether we win or lose, we’re going to evaluate and we’re going to learn.”

Following the contest, Shatto reflected on his last home game as a Golden Eagle. When asked what he will remember most about his playing days, he responded, “Just the teammates. It’s like a family out here, so it’s sad to leave.”

He also had some advice for his younger teammates.

“Just give it your all,” Shatto said. “It flies by. It’s gone before you know it.”

Sioux Falls Lincoln (7-1) 22 10 14 7 – 53

Aberdeen Central (3-5) 0 2 0 0 – 2

First Quarter

SFL – Kishmar Eberline 15 pass interception return (Edison Noll kick), 10:28.

SFL – Michael Roche 5 pass from Brody Schafer (Noll kick), 7:16.

SFL – Roche 14 pass from Schafer (Colin Lunders pass from Noll), 5:02.

Second Quarter

SFL – Joshua Myers 12 pass from Schafer (Noll kick), 11:52.

AC – Safety, Sioux Falls Lincoln snapped the ball out of the end zone, 3:16.

SFL – Noll 25 field goal, :19.6

Third Quarter

SFL – Jackson Vucurevich 9 run (Noll kick), 8:28.

SFL – Preston Marty 19 pass from Schafer (Noll kick), :21.1.

Fourth Quarter

SFL – Devonte Wilson 51 run (Ethan Olson kick), 2:44.

OFFENSE: Sioux Falls Lincoln, rushing 24-158 (Myers 18-93, Wilson 2-56, Vucurevich 3-16), passing 15-22-0 for 150 (Schafer 15-22-0 for 150), receiving (Roche 5-52, Everett Starks 5-32, Marty 2-29, Joseph Plorde 2-19, Myers 1-12, Louison Akossi 1-6), first downs 19; Aberdeen Central, rushing 23-1 (Damian McIntosh 3-21, Joey Dallman 4-7), passing 11-26-4 for 75 (Brayden Bowman 11-26-4 for 75), receiving (Karson Borge 3-36, Brody Aesoph 2-21, Ridley Waldo 2-9, Dallman 1-5, Colby Dauwen 1-4).

DEFENSE: Sioux Falls Lincoln, Noll 2 interceptions 2, Eberline 1 interception, Tatum Bell 1 interception; Aberdeen Central, Preston Peterson 3 tackles, Tate Huff 3 tackles, Brandon Schwan 3 tackles.