SAPPINGTON – Sam Estrada had not attempted more than 13 passes in a game this season, but the Lindbergh senior quarterback came out slinging on Friday.
“We knew coming into the game that we wanted to put the ball in the air. We thought that was the way to be most successful,” Estrada said.
Estrada threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter alone and the Flyers’ defense dominated the line of scrimmage as Lindbergh defeated Fox 35-0 in a Class 6 District 1 quarterfinal at Lindbergh High.
Lindbergh (8-2), which won its first playoff game since 2020, will travel to face Jackson in a district semifinal next Friday at a time to be determined.
The Flyers’ defense was buzzing from the very first play when Lindbergh sophomore defensive tackle Jameson Honey stung the Warriors’ ball carrier and forced a fumble that sophomore Jack Politte collected.
Estrada, who had thrown just four touchdown passes during the season, began his aerial artistry by launching a perfect spiral toward the back pylon for sophomore Malik Matthews. Engaged in a battle for position with his right arm, Matthews smoothly cradled the pass with only his left arm for a slick, 14-yard touchdown grab to give Lindbergh a 7-0 lead.
“He started grabbing on my jersey, so I knew I had to make the catch somehow, there was no other option,” Matthews said. “I practice those.”
The Lindbergh defensive line practices ripping the ball away, and on the Warriors’ second play from scrimmage, sophomore defensive tackle Kasen Williamson forced a fumble that was recovered by junior Brody Wharton.
“We coach that with our defense. We did a nice job tackling the mesh point. They run the option, and our kids did a nice job of putting their helmet and body in there when the handoff was occurring,” Lindbergh coach Nathan Norman said.
Three plays later, Estrada rolled left and delivered a strike to Matthews for an 11-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
“Let’s be real, it was the worst-case scenario for Fox in the first five minutes and a great scenario for Lindbergh, but we caused that by being where we were supposed to be on defense, being physical, getting two turnovers and the offense capitalizing on those mistakes,” Norman said.
A Fox three-and-out returned the ball to Lindbergh and Estrada went back to work. He kept the ball for 12 yards, handed it to senior Connor Latham for 26 and then executed a perfect play-action fake before connecting with Politte for a 17-yard touchdown strike to open a 21-0 cushion less than 10 minutes into the contest.
“I just ran my route and trusted Sam to put the ball in my hands,” Politte said.
Estrada, whose high-water mark of 13 pass attempts came against Parkway West on Oct. 13, went 9-for-13 for 91 yards and three scores in the first half alone.
“We love our big O-line. They’re a talented group, and putting the ball in the air early helped us run the ball later,” Estrada said.
Near the end of the first half, Lindbergh sustained a 12-play, 70-yard drive, helped by an Estrada to Jack Hessler 24-yard connection on fourth-and-7. The drive stalled inside the five-yard line, but during the Lindbergh field goal attempt, Fox was penalized for roughing the snapper and it gave the Flyers a first down.
Lanham powered into the end zone on the next play to give Lindbergh a 28-0 lead at halftime.
“To be very honest, I really expected a pretty good battle tonight,” Fox coach Brent Tinker said. “I knew (Lindbergh) was going to come out and play tough, but we had those turnovers, defensively we weren’t able to stop them, and we just never got it going. Definitely a rough night.”
The Fox option attack was stuck in neutral due to Lindbergh’s explosive defensive front, with Honey, Williamson, Hessler, Politte, senior Braden Duke and sophomore Noah Norman leading the charge.
“Compliments to their defensive line. We have to admit that they played really well,” Tinker said.
On the first offensive play of the second half, Lindbergh sophomore Kevin Fisher raced down the left sideline for a 69-yard touchdown run, part of a 313-yard performance by the Lindbergh offense.
The Flyers’ defense held Fox to 98 total yards and five first downs.
“We played a complete game tonight,” Norman said.
The Lindbergh victory broke a three-year drought that included first-round playoff losses to SLUH in 2021, Kirkwood in 2022 and Jackson in 2023. The Flyers’ last playoff win before Friday was a 28-21 district semifinal victory over SLUH on Nov. 6, 2020.
Estrada, who did not play in last year’s 41-13 playoff loss at Jackson, is looking forward to the opportunity ahead.
“It’s an electric atmosphere. We’re excited to go there,” he said.
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