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38 | October 11, 2018 | The New Lenox Patriot SPORTS newlenoxpatriot.com West combats Thornton’s speed, wins on homecoming Sean Hastings Freelance Reporter Lincoln-Way West football coach Dave Ernst said the Warriors’ win over Thornton was their best win of the year. He called it a “complete team win” with the contributions from the offense scoring, the defense shutting down Thornton’s offense and the special teams playing well. Thornton scored on its first drive of the game, but West scored 17 straight points and won 17-7 on its homecoming and senior night on Friday, Oct. 5 in New Lenox. “Anytime you beat Thornton, you feel great,” Ernst said. “[Coach] Dontrell Jackson does a great job with those kids. They’re always coached up and have a scheme to take away things we do well.” The Warriors knew that being able to stop Thornton’s speed was going to be tough and something they would have to adjust to. On the Wildcats’ first drive of the game, they put together big plays and made the usually sound Warrior defense make bad misses on tackles. That drive included a 42-yard gain on a screen pass and an 10-yard score on a designed quarterback draw by Derrick Williams Jr. Senior defensive back Andrew Sherry and senior defensive lineman Kaidon Lingle led West with five tackles. “Starting off in film, you can’t really see their speed,” Sherry said. “You have to see it on the field to get a real feel.” Besides the first drive of the game where the Wildcats’ speed was lethal, the Warriors’ defense allowed less than 100 yards the rest of the game. Thornton had 153 yards of total offense. Box Score 1 2 3 4 F Thornton 7 0 0 0 7 West 0 14 3 0 17 3 stars: 1. Patrick Ayala 22-yard FG, 2/2 on XP 2. Andrew Sherry 5 tackles, pass breakup 3. Marconi- 2 touchdowns 114 yards, 43-yard reception Ernst said it took time to adjust to their speed, but loved the pressure that the defensive line put on the quarterback. “Our front six is so tough,” Sherry said. The Warriors had three sacks as a team, which says a lot because of how Williams could make guys miss. Lingle, senior defensive end Marco Corsetti, and junior defensive lineman Peyton Knepper each had a sack. The thing with Thornton is that even though West was dominating defensively, breaking off a big play for a touchdown to tie the game, or a big gain to get close, would not come as a surprise. West’s offense continued to chip away at Thornton’s defense, and while it was not an offensive explosion, it scored when it needed to. With Thornton’s big-play ability, potentially the biggest score of the game was senior kicker Patrick Ayala’s 22-yard field goal in the third quarter to put West up two scores 17-7. Ayala made a field goal the week before against Sandburg to open the scoring and now his confidence is high. “I knew it was important [to make the kick] and scoring an extra three points was huge because it was going to be a two-possession game,” Ayala said. “I knew the ball was going to go through. I wasn’t worried and everyone had confidence in me, but when it went in, it was a relief for everybody.” West’s field goal unit has been nearly perfect all season and Ayala equates that to the work they put in at practice. “Martin Bender is an amazing snapper, Brody Ceh is an amazing holder and we’re just unison on that unit,” he said. His field goal was set up by a long 43-yard pass reception from senior quarterback Greyson Grimm to junior running back Caleb Marconi after a fake handoff to him. Grimm placed the ball perfectly to a wide-open Marconi on the right side. Later in the drive senior fullback Dylan “The Horse” Holstein made a step back move on Thornton’s Division I defensive back and made him miss inside the 10-yard line. West tried to pound it on three tries, but was unsuccessful this go around. Marconi ran in both Warrior touchdowns from five and three yards out contributing to his 114 rushing yards. Both scores came in the second quarter, with the second being on fourth down with 13 seconds left in the half. Senior running back Donté Barber made a return to the field against Sandburg where he racked up 143 yards and Lincoln-Way West’s Aidan Tyk returns a punt into Thornton territory Friday, Oct. 5, during West’s homecoming game. Mark korosa/22nd Century media a touchdown. He has been nursing an ankle injury, but feels like he is almost all the way back and is just enjoying being on the field. This week he had 82 yards on the ground. “I just love playing this sport,” he said. “It’s my passion, it’s what I do and it’s my favorite thing.” Marconi has led the rushing attack for much of the season and scored both touchdowns against Thornton in a split game between the two backs. And with split time at the running back position and two completely different styles, having both running backs ready to go can make West dangerous, Barber said. “Even if I don’t get all the scores all the time, if setting up for the team is what I can do, then that’s what I’ve got to do,” Barber said. “I feel like (opposing teams) have to plan for both of us now. We’re two different styled backs and you can’t just plan for one, you have to plan for both because we’re both going to attack you two different ways.” Barber picked up yards early in most series, including a 24-yard run, and Marconi would pound it forward the extra three-to-four yards NFL player, alum gives pregame speech Sean Hastings Freelance Reporter Lincoln-Way West players were greeted by former West star, and current NFL player, BJ Bello. Bello gave the team a pregame speech and for Dave Ernst, who coached Bello when he played seven seasons ago, it was great to have him back, he said. “The thing with him is how great of a person he is,” Ernst said. “He’s just a great human being. He’s a great player and all that, but he’s an even better person.” Bello, who has played with the Cleveland Browns and most recently with the Arizona Cardinals, did not know what he was going to say. “It means the world to me,” he said. “I told coach for a first down. The win pushed the Warriors to 5-2 on the season, which makes them playoffeligible, but the team knows that 7-2 sounds a lot better, especially since it can give them a home playoff game. For seniors Barber and Ernst I was just going to freestyle it. I walked up there and it felt like was ready to play again.” He said it feels like it was yesterday when he was at West. They say, “home is where the heart is,” and for Bello, it’s right here in New Lenox. “That feeling I get every time I pull up to this parking lot,” he said. “Once I make that left turn into this parking lot. I get this feeling in my body that this is home. It’s my comfort zone. You grow up with these people, you’ve known these people your whole life. New Lenox is filled with the best people I’ve met in my whole life.” He said all he wants to do now is to make New Lenox proud. Sherry, not getting a chance to come back to their home field one time is not an option. “I want to win on this field one more time,” Barber said. “It’s all our senior years so let’s try and get back on this field one more time at least.”
newlenoxpatriot.com SPORTS the New Lenox Patriot | October 11, 2018 | 39 fastbreak Football Knights rush for more than 300 yards in shutout 1st and 3 22nd Century Media File Photo Right on Rimkunas sisters 1. Emma Rimkunas (above) The Knights junior has reached state the last two years at singles but moved over to doubles to play with her younger sister, freshman, Kara this season (see Page 33). 2. Kara Rimkunas The freshman finally got to play for the Knights after having watched her sister from afar the last two years. She’s already made an impact with Emma at doubles with a 21-6 record as of Oct. 5. 3. Playoff push Emma will attempt to make her third straight trip to state at the LWE Sectional on Saturday, Oct. 13. New No. 1 singles player Kiana Sikich will aim to make a return to the state tournament, as well. RANDY WHALEN Freelance Reporter The Knights look to be playoff bound, again. Justin Ellis ran for more than 250 yards and the defense posted its second straight shutout as the Lincoln-Way Central football team almost assuredly clinched its third straight playoff appearance with a workman like 28-0 victory over Champaign Centennial on Friday night, Oct. 5, in New Lenox. The game was designated as Staff Appreciation Night and was also the Pink Hope Game for cancer research. Because of impending storms in the area and Poor Heather. Not only did she pick up a loss without her predicted team taking the field (Providence Catholic) but she sinned on two other games and fell from second to fifth. Game of the Week • Montini (7-0) at Providence (5-2) Other Games to Watch • Lincoln-Way Central (5-2) at Sandburg (3-4) • Lincoln-Way East (7-0) at Thornwood (1-6) • Andrew (6-1) at Homewood-Flossmoor (6-1) • Lockport (0-7) at Peoria Notre Dame (4-3) • Tinley Park (2-5) at Oak Lawn (2-5) • Lincoln-Way West (5-2) at Stagg (2-5) LISTEN UP “They’ve got a tight bond that’s become unbreakable.” Sue Schneider – Lincoln-Way Central girls tennis coach, on Emma and Kara Rimkunas as doubles partners. Box Score because of the distance that Centennial had to travel, the game time was moved up to 6 p.m. The win gave the Knights (5-2) five wins on the season to make them playoff eligible. With their schedule they 39-8 Joe Coughlin | Publisher • Montini 35, Providence 31. Shootout but experienced visitors have the edge. • Lincoln-Way Central • Lincoln-Way East • Homewood-Flossmoor • Notre Dame • Tinley Park • Lincoln-Way West Tune In 1 2 3 4 f Centennial 0 0 0 0 0 LW Central 6 6 8 8 28 TOP PERFORMERS 1. Justin Ellis (LWC) RB: 30 carries, 251 yards, 46-yard TD run; 2 receptions, 26 yards 2. Lincoln-Way Central defense: Had seven sacks of Charger QB Dayton Coleman 3. Frank Luce (LWC) RB: 6 carries, 41 yards. 38-9 Jeff Vorva | Sports Editor should certainly have enough playoff points to qualify for the postseason for the third consecutive year. That’s the longest streak since Central qualified for the postseason 15 straight years through 2009. That included the last OUR STAFF’S PREDICTIONS FOR THE AREA GAMES IN WEEK 8 • Montini 45, Providence 21. After being charged with a forfeit, Celtics should be well-rested but Montini is proving it can play with the big boys since moving to the Catholic League Blue. • Lincoln-Way Central • Lincoln-Way East • Homewood-Flossmoor • Notre Dame • Oak Lawn • Lincoln-Way West 37-10 Tom Czaja | Contributing Editor • Providence 24, Montini 21. Hard to say who has the edge with the Broncos on short rest and the Celtics with a two-week layoff, but home team prevails in latest marquee matchup. • Lincoln-Way Central • Lincoln-Way East • Homewood-Flossmoor • Notre Dame • Oak Lawn • Lincoln-Way West Girls and boys cross country 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 • Lincoln-Way West and Lincoln-Way Central will compete in the SWSC meet at Dellwood Park in Lockport. six (1995-2000) when it was just one school. “It does feel good,” Ellis said of likely making the playoffs. “[Fellow senior running back Conner] Mc- Williams was out of the lineup, since he’s a little banged up. So we had to try to give lots of guys opportunities. We scored on four of our [seven] possessions and had four players score.” Ellis, who has been the top rusher for the Knights, finished with 30 carries for 251 yards and caught the only two pass receptions of the evening for 26 additional yards. He set the tone right away, capping the Knights opening possession by breaking out of a pack and 37-10 James Sanchez | Contributing editor • Montini 28, Providence 24. Broncos do enough to stop the Celtics’ run game and squeak out a win. • Lincoln-Way Central • Lincoln-Way East • Homewood-Flossmoor • Notre Dame • Oak Lawn • Lincoln-Way West Index 36-11 34 – This Week In 32 – Athlete of the Week dashing and darting for a 46- yard TD with 7:57 left in the opening quarter. The offensive line of juniors Rikki Dobson at left tackle, Keith Kaminski at left guard, Collin Bookover at center, Jacob Leggero at right guard and senior Drew Parrish at right tackle open the holes for Central’s ground game, which totaled over 300 yards. “Justin ran like a man,” Central coach Jeremy Cordell said of Ellis. “He ran hard and we played a tough, grind out the yards game. We came out and scored on the opening drive. We wanted to start fast and we did. Just Please see Football, 36 Heather Warthen | Chief Operating Officer • Providence 21, Montini 20. Celtics have their hands full but walk away with the win. • Lincoln-Way Central • Lincoln-Way East • Homewood-Flossmoor • Notre Dame • Tinley Park • Lincoln-Way West FASTBREAK is compiled by Editor James Sanchez, james@newlenoxpatriot.com.
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