FS_090618

38 | September 6, 2018 | The frankfort station sports
frankfortstation.com
Strong offense helps LW East rout Naperville Central
AREA
FOOTBALL
STANDINGS
Jon Depaolis
Freelance Reporter
For the second week in a
row, the Lincoln-Way East
football team started off
slow against a tough opponent.
This time, the Griffins
even trailed 13-3 to Naperville
Central with 7:02 left in
the second quarter Saturday,
Sept. 1, in Frankfort.
But once again, East was
able to find a second level
and turn a 10-point deficit
into a convincing 38-19 win.
Leading the way after a
slow start to the game was
senior quarterback Jack
Baltz, who began 2-for-5
passing with an interception
but finished 16-of-28 for 207
yards, two touchdowns and
two interceptions. He also
rushed nine times for 55
yards.
Also continuing right
where he left off the week
prior, East junior Devon
Williams added three touchdowns
and 130 yards on 19
carries for the Griffins.
East coach Rob Zvonar
said it was a special effort
by the Griffins to beat Naperville
Central, given the
game was rescheduled from
Friday to Saturday because
of storms — not to mention
the continued absence of
All-State wide receiver AJ
Henning.
“It was every phase, because
we all took turns stalling
a little bit,” Zvonar said.
“[Naperville Central quarterback
Payton Thorne] is
awfully good when he gets
into a little rhythm. We just
hung in there, and we bent
quite a bit but didn’t break
too much. We got to capitalize
on some turnovers on
offense early in the game,
which we didn’t.”
The game started well
enough for the Griffins, as
the defense forced the first
of five Naperville Central
turnovers on an interception
by Gus Christensen. On the
ensuing drive, East got a 27-
yard field goal by Dominic
Dzioban.
But Naperville Central
stormed right back with a
sustained drive, ending with
a 35-yard touchdown pass
from Thorne to Cade Mc-
Donald. Naperville Central
failed to convert the extra
point, However, as East’s
Adrian Wilson blocked the
attempt.
To start the second quarter,
East linebacker Danny
Scianna forced a fumble
and then recovered the ball.
Later in the quarter, East’s
Kenny Palmer picked off
Thorne. But the Griffins
were unable to capitalize on
either of those turnovers.
Naperville Central added
to its first-half lead on a
9-yard touchdown strike
from Thorne to Samuel
Jackson.
But after that score, the
East offense started to click.
On the next offensive series,
Baltz found wide receiver
Matt Judd (8 receptions, 109
yards) on two big pass plays.
Then, Williams broke free
on the right edge for a 12-
yard score.
About four minutes later
— and after two big receptions
by Jackson Ritter and
Judd — Williams again
found the end zone on an
8-yard touchdown run to
make it 17-13 East at halftime.
Starting the second half
with the ball, East struck
quickly as Baltz connected
with Chase Anderson (3 receptions,
53 yards) for a 31-
yard touchdown.
Baltz said the Naperville
Central defense came out
strong to start the game,
which led to the trouble early
on for the offense.
“That was a good defense,”
he said. “They hit
hard. I felt it definitely.”
But after fighting through
that adversity early, Baltz
said the offense started to
find its rhythm.
“We settled down, and our
guys started making plays,”
he said. “Basically, we just
found out what their weaknesses
were.”
One of those weaknesses
for Naperville Central came
during man coverage.
“Definitely for the one-onones,
Matt Judd and Chase
Anderson were both making
plays, and so was Jackson
Ritter,” Baltz said. “I just
threw it up, and they got it.
They were making plays.”
Naperville Central battled
back later in the third. Despite
Thorne being picked
off again by Palmer (on a
pass that was blocked at the
line of scrimmage by East’s
Wilson), he led Naperville
Central on a long drive that
concluded with a 30-yard
touchdown to Jackson with
3:54 left in the quarter. But
once again, Naperville Central
failed to convert the extra
point, making it 24-19 East.
The Griffins responded on
the very next series, as Baltz
hit Anderson with a 15-yard
touchdown pass. Then, early
in the fourth quarter, Williams
capped a long drive
by the Griffins with a 2-yard
touchdown run to make it
38-19.
East effectively iced the
game on Naperville Central’s
next drive, as Jake
Tomczak intercepted Thorne
in the end zone with 4:33 to
play.
“I’m really proud of the
grit and the perseverance,”
Zvonar said of his team after
the game. “I just talked to
them, and I don’t think we’re
near [as good] as we could
be. I don’t think we’re playing
our best football yet. If
we can continue to improve,
it can get pretty scary the
Lincoln-Way East's Mike Manning (left) tackles Naperville
Central's Cade McDonald on Saturday, Sept. 1. The Griffins
won the game 38-19.
Photos by Julie McMann/22nd Century Media
The Griffins' Matt Judd (left) tackles the Redhawks' Justin
Agema as Devon Williams (right) goes for the touchdown.
level this team can get to.”
One area of the team that
Zvonar does believe is playing
at a high level is the offensive
line.
“Good, bad or ugly —
they’ve done their job every
snap all year so far, and I’m
sure they will continue to do
the same,” Zvonar said.
He credited multi-year
starters Dane Eggert and Anthony
Sottosanto — as well
as a slew of others — and
position coaches Dale Augustine
and Ed Lefevour for
leading the way.
Overall, Zvonar said the
Griffins (2-0) accomplished
the first of its three goals: to
go undefeated in nonconference
games. The other two
goals are to win the South-
West Suburban Conference
and to make a deep run in the
postseason.
The second of those goals
starts in Week 3, as East
opens its SouthWest Suburban
Conference schedule
with a home game against
Andrew.
SouthWest Suburban
Team, Conf. Record, Overall
Andrew 1-0, 2-0
LW Central 1-0, 1-1
Sandburg 0-0, 2-0
LW East 0-0, 2-0
H-F 0-0, 2-0
Bolingbrook 0-0, 2-0
Brad-Bourb. 0-0, 2-0
Thornwood 0-0, 1-1
Thornridge 0-0, 1-1
Lockport 0-0, 0-2
Stagg 0-0, 0-2
LW West 0-1, 1-1
Thornton 0-1, 1-1
South Suburban Red
Team, Conf. Record, Overall
Tinley Park 0-0, 2-0
Hillcrest 0-0, 2-0
TF South 0-0, 2-0
Bremen 0-0, 1-1
TF North 0-0, 1-1
Oak Forest 0-0, 0-2
Lemont 0-0, 0-2
Chicago Catholic League Blue
Team, Conf. Record, Overall
Providence 0-0, 2-0
Brother Rice 0-0, 2-0
Montini 0-0 2-0
Loyola 0-0, 1-1
St. Rita 0-0, 0-2
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