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54 | September 15, 2016 | The Mokena Messenger Sports mokenamessenger.com Football Lockport nips LW Central 16-14 in battle of unbeaten teams Randy Whalen Freelance Reporter There was a feeling in the air when Lockport Township traveled to face Lincoln-Way Central in the opening South- West Suburban Conference football game of season for both teams. No, it wasn’t the rain - which had come earlier in the day, but mostly stayed away during the game. It was a feeling of excitement as both teams came in undefeated. But in the end it was Lockport which forced key turnovers and came away with a 16-14 victory over the Knights on Friday, Sept. 9 in New Lenox. Tavares Moore (33 carries for 175 yards) scored the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter and the junior was even better than he was the previous week (34 carries for 169 yards) in Lockport’s thrilling 17-15 win over South Elgin. With the victory the Porters (3-0, 1-0) won their first three games for the first time since 2009. Central (2-1, 0-1) last won its first two games in 2009 and started 4-0 the year before that. It was the first meeting between the two teams since a 21-0 Knights victory in 2012 and first meeting in New Lenox since a 37- 10 Lockport win in 2011. “We’re got a lot of great kids and our senior leadership has been great,” said Lockport coach Dan Starkey. “The offensive line is getting better and the passing game will be there. It wasn’t perfect, but it was huge to win.” Neither team was perfect, as each turned the ball over three times. But the key turnover happened at the end of the third quarter. Spurred by a 40-yard pass from senior quarterback Hunter Campbell (8-of-17 for 100 yards, 2 interceptions) to junior running back Mike Morgan on a 3rd-and-6 play, the Knights reached the Lockport 12. But on 2nd-and-1 from there, senior running back Mitch Hosman fumbled the ball and senior defensive back Eric Jungheim scooped it up and returned it 25-yards with 30.6 seconds left in the third quarter for the Porters. “Nick Dado forced it,” Jungheim said of the the senior linebacker forcing the fumble. “I saw it rolling and just picked it up. That just turned the whole game around. It gave the ball back to the offense and that secured the win for us.” It did, but indirectly. Lockport was forced to punt from near midfield on the ensuing possession. But Ben Davis’ kick was downed at the Central 6. On 4th-and-2 from the 12, senior Devin Smith went Central’s Trey Lyons catches the ball in midair against Lockport. back to punt. But as he moved to his right to get a better angle on the kick, Smith instead found Porter defenders - including senior defensive back Dylan Hagan, who tackled him for a 3-yard loss. “No, that wasn’t a fake punt,” Central coach Jeremy Cordell said of the play. “But we just can’t make those [turnover] mistakes. We can’t turn the ball over in the red zone.” The Central defense held the Porters out of the end zone, but Davis kicked a 24- yard field goal with 6:19 to play to give Lockport a 16-7 lead. It was the third field goal of the game for the senior. “Special teams was a huge part of this game,” Starkey said. “To go up by nine on that third field goal was huge.” Especially when the Knights put together a nineplay, 71-yard drive which was capped on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Campbell to Smith in the left corner of the end zone. Junior Dimitri Sereleas added the extra point and Central was within two points at 16-14 with 3:35 left in the game. The key play in the drive was a 32-yard flea-flicker pass from Zach Stoklosa to fellow junior Matt Pollack down to the Lockport 39. But behind the running of Moore, who carried five straight times for 27-yards, the Porters were able to run out the clock and secure a Lincoln-Way Central running back MItch Hosman runs the ball Friday, Sept. 9 during a home matchup against Lockport. Jason Maholy/22nd Century Media second straight 2-point win. “Our defense played well,” Starkey said. “We gave up a touchdown drive at the end, which we weren’t happy with, but our offense ran out the clock. Getting those first downs was huge. Also credit to [junior fullback] Austin Hoffman, who we call our superback. Our offensive line was great and Tavares was the beneficiary of that.” Central got on the board first when Hosman (9 carries for 81 yards) broke free down the right side and galloped in from 65-yards out on the last play of the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. The Porters capped a 10- play drive with a 27-yard field goal by Davis with 3:20 left in the first half. Junior defensive back Zach Reese then intercepted Campbell, giving the ball to Lockport at its own 41 with 53.8 seconds left in the half. A 22-yard run by Davis, down to the 22, helped set up his own field goal. This one from 39-yards out, to end the half and draw the Porters to within 7-6 at intermission. Davis (6-of-15 for 40 yards, 3 interceptions) didn’t have the best day passing. but he made up for it by kicking the three field goals and none of his three interceptions led to points. Please see Football, 52 Attention Realtors Looking to Advertise? Reach More Than 96,000 Homes & Businesses Each Week PRESSBOX PICKS Our staff’s predictions for the top games in Week 4 10-5 8-7 8-7 Lincoln-Way East (2-1) at Bolingbrook (2-1) Max Lapthorne | Contributing Editor • LW East 15, Bolingbrook 7. East defense shines in grind-it-out victory for the Griffins. Joe Coughlin | Publisher • LW East 42, Bolingbrook 14. It’s a rout, as the Griffins take out Week 3 frustration on the ‘Brook. Tim Carroll | Assistant Editor • Lincoln-Way East 37, Bolingbrook 20. I have the feeling the Griffins are just getting started. 8-7 Tom Czaja | Contributing Editor • LW East 35, Bolingbrook 10. The Raiders are no match for the Griffins this year. 6-9 Heather Warthen | Chief Operating Officer • 20 Bolingbrook, LW East 17. A playoff preview in which the Raiders take the win at home. See the Classified Section for more info, or Call 708.326.9170 www.22ndcenturymedia.com Lockport (3-0) hosts Homewood-Flossmoor (3-0) Lincoln-Way Central (2-1) hosts Thornwood (2-1) Providence Catholic (1-2) at Saint Ignatius (3-0) Andrew (0-3) at Thornridge (3-0) • H-F • LW Central • Providence • Thornridge • H-F • LW Central • Providence • Andrew • H-F • LW Central • Saint Ignatius • Thornridge • H-F • LW Central • Providence • Thornridge • H-F • LW Central • Providence • Thornridge
mokenamessenger.com sports the Mokena Messenger | September 15, 2016 | 55 fastbreak Young football players aim for nationals Julie McMann/22nd Century Media 1st-and-3 Top LW Central performers of the week 1. Brianne Bolden (ABOVE) As one of the Knights’ top golfers, Bolden displayed her talent at the LWC Invitational by sharing medalist honors with a 2-over 38. 2. Cassidy Wyman The Central transfer did her best to keep the Knights afloat against her former team Lincoln-Way East by serving up three aces and adding seven digs. 3. Grace Curran The sophomore shared medalist honors with Bolden and a Sandburg golfer with a 38 to help keep Central undefeated at the season’s midway point. Mokena Park District hosts NFL Punt, Pass & Kick at Main Park Amanda Jarzynski, Editor The sun arrived to Main Park just before the contestants did on Thursday, Sept. 8 so the field was dry enough for the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition for children ages 6-14. This was the fifth year the competition was held by the Mokena Park District, and they had one of the best turnouts ever with almost 30 children signed up. The event was free to participate, and it did not matter if the child was a football superstar or a beginner; all were welcomed. “This is a sanctioned NFL competition,” said Duane Smith, athletic recreation supervisor at the Mokena Park District. “So, we have certain rules to follow, and they provide us with the equipment to use, but we use volunteer staff members to conduct [the competition].” The event held at Main Park was the first in a larger tournament, said Smith. It is simply the local competition; winners from the Sept. 9 event would move on to the sectional, then regional and finally national competition. The children were split up into four different age groups (6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13), and each winner would qualify for the next round. “We always send people to the sectional,” Smith said. “But less than five have ever gotten past sectional.” But the competition is not as much about advancing as far as possible into the tournament. Smith said that the event is held to get children together to have friendly competition among each other. “To be out here interacting with the kids is the most fun part,” Smith said. “Then giving them another outlet to participate in an event with not a lot of pressure. Yes, it is a competition, but it’s not about winning or losing; it’s just about having fun, throwing and kicking the ball, and being with your friends.” Smith said that a lot of the registrants are children that have never played football before. “We do get kids that don’t participate in football at all,” Smith said. “This is their chance to participate in a football activity without having to try out for a team and get cut.” At the same time, Smith said approximately 75 percent of competitors are players who participate on the Mokena Burros teams. The competition was also open to girls, too. This year, Gianna Amadio was the only girl that participated. After everyone was registered and warmed up, the competition began. “Everyone has three tries,” Smith said. “First, they pass the ball – and they’re aiming for the flags [at the other end of the field] – but they have to stay as close to the white line as possible. Then, they punt the ball, and then kick it off a tee.” The white lines drawn down the field were there to test the participants’ accuracy. Attempts were measured away from that line and later deducted from the total distance of the throw or kick, Smith explained. While he explained the rules to the participants, several of the children asked what would happen if they could throw it past the red flags, which were placed more than half a football field away from the starting point. The volunteer coaches answered that question with a joke, “If you can get it past the flags, you win.” To which the participants accepted the challenge as several throws and punts made it almost 100 feet out Only girl of the competition, Gianna Amadio, throws the football in the 10-11 age group Thursday, Sept. 8, during the NFL Punt, Pass, Kick competition at Main Park. Photos by Amanda Jarzynski/22nd Century Media Brady Cunningham goes to punt the ball in the 6-7 age group during the competition. from the starting point. “We’ve had some really close competitions,” Smith said. “I’m talking matter of feet. The winners from each age group qualify for the next level, but first through third place each get ribbons.” Happy with the amount of participants, the Mokena Park District will look to continue the event for future years, as long as the weather permits. “We rained out last year,” Smith said. “And we also try to do the MLB Pitch, Hit [&] Run competition, but it has been rained out two consecutive years. “This is one of those things that within the field, you’re always looking for new things. You hear about them from word of mouth. We don’t have a lot of free events, so we threw this in.” Listen Up “We’re looking to keep the mojo working and head strong into the playoffs. We’re just trying to get better every day. Just 1 percent better every day.” Brian Shannon — Lincoln-Way Central girls golf coach, on winning the Lincoln-Way Central Invitational Sept. 8 against five other teams TUNE IN Boys Golf TBA, Tuesday, Sept. 27 • All the Lincoln-Way high schools will compete in the SWSC Conference Tournament at Kankakee Elks Country Club in St. Anne. Index 48 – This Week In 51 – Athlete of the Week FASTBREAK is compiled by Assistant Editor F. Amanda Tugade. Send any questions or comments to f.tugade@22ndcenturymedia.com, or call (708) 326-9170 ext. 34.
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