An in-depth look at the Lincoln Railsplitters

NYPost.com PSAL football beat writer Zach Braziller takes a closer look at the 2011 Lincoln Railsplitters, who will meet Erasmus Hall in the PSAL City Championship final Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx.

Lincoln

Nickname: Railsplitters

Head coach: Shawn O’Connor (11 years)

Record: 12-0

How they got here: Defeated No. 16 John Adams, 54-6, in the first round; No. 14 Thomas Jefferson, 30-28, in the quarterfinals; and No. 7 DeWitt Clinton, 30-14, in the semifinals

Team notes: Back in the City Championship division final for second straight year. … Hasn’t won a city title since 1993. … Has won league-high 20 straight regular-season contests. … Returned just two starters, running back Kareem Folkes and two-way lineman Robert Kitching, from last year’s team. … Star of last year’s team, All-American Ishaq Williams, plays for Notre Dame.

Lauren Marsh

Lincoln running back Kareem Folkes has scored 27 touchdowns this year.

Denis Gostev

Lincoln coach Shawn O'Connor is looking for his first city title.

SCOUTING REPORT

(from league coach under condition of anonymity)

“They really don’t have a glaring weakness. They put up points and they don’t give up a lot. … I love Folkes. He’s fast and he’s tough to bring down. Jones has added a dimension for them they didn’t have last year. They mix it up. … I like their lines. They may not be as big as they’ve been, but they’re still bigger than everybody else. The big guy Kitching is their best guy. … You can break the big play on their defense. Jefferson did it, Clinton did it a little and Erasmus will have to, to win."

UNIT BY UNIT BREAKDOWN

Quarterback

Notes: Jessel Jones is a first-year starter. … Tied with Tottenville’s Brandon Barnes for second-most touchdown passes during regular season (10) and was second for yards passing with 868. … Has also run for 14 touchdowns and 780 yards. … Six-foot signal-caller being recruited by handful of Division II schools, including Virginia Union and Merrimack.

O’Connor’s take: “He’s a dual threat – he can run and throw. Running, we thought he was good, we didn’t realize he would be that good. … He’s made some timely passes. Guys can’t stack the box against us.”

Running backs

Notes: Kareem Folkes is one of two returning starters. … Fourth during regular season in rushing yards with 1,225 and first in touchdowns with 22. … The 5-foot-10, 170-pound standout moved to cornerback this year and had 18 tackles and two interceptions. Junior Malik Darling is the lead blocker and Denzel Duchenne has also received carries, run for 212 yards and four scores. … Being recruited by College Football Subdivision programs Fordham, Wagner, Albany and Stony Brook.