NL_091219

newlenoxpatriot.com sports
the new lenox patriot | September 12, 2019 | 45
Knights roll to road rout as defense impresses again
STEVE MILLAR, Sports Editor
Senior linebacker and
captain Zack Orr wants to
set a high standard for the
Lincoln-Way Central defense.
“I’m just trying to come
out and set the tone for what
we want to be as a defense,”
Orr said. “I want to be an
example of what we want
to be on ‘D.’ I want to play
that way every time out.”
If Orr’s play on Saturday,
Sept. 7, was symbolic of
what the Knights’ defense
will be, Central is in for a
fun year.
In fact, just about everyone
on the defensive side
set a good example during
a 46-6 crushing of host
Bloomington.
Combine that showing
with holding Richards –
the No. 1 team in the state
in Class 6A – and Iowa
recruit running back Leshon
Williams to 14 points
in the season opener, and
the Knights’ defense sure
seems stout.
“We only game up 14
points to Richards, only six
[to Bloomington], I’m feeling
the hit squad is clicking
on all cylinders and we’re
ready to go the rest of the
LW CENTRAL AT BLOOMINGTON, SEPT. 7
1 2 3 4 F
LW Central 14 17 7 8 46
Bloomington 0 0 6 0 6
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Danny Reyna, LW Central, senior running back --- 19
carries, 151 yards, four touchdowns
2. Zack Orr, LW Central, senior linebacker --- three tackles
for loss
3. Colin Eberhart, LW Central, senior defensive lineman ---
fumble recovery, fourth-down tackle
season,” said senior defensive
lineman Colin Eberhart.
Eberhart was a key factor
in the Knights (1-1) dominating
the line of scrimmage.
He had a fumble recovery
and a big tackle to
stop a fourth-and-1 attempt
by the Purple Raiders (1-1).
“I think our physicality
was a lot better,” he said.
“We were getting bodies
around the football all day,
I don’t think we made a lot
of mistakes and we played
good, clean football.
“I think our guys are
some boys. We’ve got
some strength on the line
and their o-line was just not
ready to handle it.”
Orr, meanwhile, was the
most dominant player on
the field. He was constantly
in the backfield, making
three of Central’s eight
tackles for loss.
“Zack’s a special kid,”
Central coach Jeremy
Cordell said. “He played
really well [against Richards],
too. He did a really
nice job of being physical,
being there in the flats, setting
the perimeter for us.
He’s a really good leader.”
Central outgained the
Purple Raiders 366-100.
After being held in check
by Richards, the Knights’
offense exploded in Bloomington.
Senior running back
Danny Reyna led the way,
piling up 151 yards and four
touchdowns on 19 carries.
“We played how we think
LW Central linebacker Zack Orr brings down
Bloomington’s DaQwan Davis during the Knights’ 46-6
win Saturday, Sept. 7. STEVE MILLAR/22ND CENTURY MEDIA
we should be playing,” Reyna
said. “[Week one], I think
was kind of a fluke. We definitely
could have won that
game. We had chances to
score and we just couldn’t
get it done. This is what we
expect to do.”
The Knights scored
touchdowns on their first
three possessions, with
Reyna reaching the end
zone on a pair of 4-yard
runs and Liam Higgins hitting
Charlie Graefen for a
21-yard touchdown pass.
“[The first drive] definitely
set the tone,” Reyna
said. “That’s what we’re
supposed to do. Our linemen
did a really good job
blocking, the whole offense
clicked, we played as one.”
Carter Bojan added 10
carries for 70 yards and a
touchdown.
Higgins was efficient,
finishing 6-of-8 for 70
yards.
The Knights put the game
away by scoring 10 points
over the final 38 seconds of
the first half.
After Reyna scored on
a 2-yard touchdown run,
Central’s defense forced a
quick three-and-out and senior
Luke Juricek blocked
the Bloomington punt.
That set up sophomore
Jake Andjelic’s 43-yard
field goal with two seconds
to go.
Andjelic was also 5-for-5
on extra points.
Indeed, the Knights were
strong in all facets of the
game as Ian Troester’s 31-
yard punt return – which
set up Higgins’ touchdown
pass – added to the success
on special teams.
Bloomington went 7-3 in
2018 and routed Danville
36-0 in its 2019 opener but
was no match for Central.
“We knew we had to
come out and put our best
foot forward because they
have guys that can play,”
Cordell said. “Our game
plan was just to go at them.”
The Knights now enter
conference play in the
SouthWest Suburban, beginning
with a trip to Lockport
on Friday, Sept. 13.
The Porters (0-2) have lost
their last 11 games.
Before Central could
look ahead to that contest,
though, there was a long,
but happy bus ride home
from Bloomington.
“We’re going to be blaring
music on the bus,” Eberhart
said. “We’re going to
be patting each other on the
shoulders. It’s going to be
a much more eventful ride
home.”
Our staff’s predictions for the top games in Week 3
Week 1 leader Steve Millar just received an
award from the Illinois High School Soccer
Coaches Association as Girls Soccer Person of the
Year for 2018 over the weekend, but he is not
perfect. Thomas Czaja was perfect, and Sean
Hastings darn near perfect, in Week 2, and we
have a three-way tie at the top.
Game of the Week
• Providence Catholic (2-0) at Brother Rice (2-0)
Other Games to Watch
• Lincoln-Way West (1-1) at Sandburg (1-1)
• Andrew (2-0) at Homewood-Flossmoor (2-0)
• Lincoln-Way Central (1-1) at Lockport (0-2)
• Oak Forest (0-2) at Tinley Park (0-2)
• Bradley Bourbonnais (1-1) at LW East (2-0)
13-3
Thomas Czaja |
Editor
• Brother Rice 24, Providence 20.
Celtics nearly avenge last year’s
20-0 loss, but the home team hangs
on for the win.
• LW West
• Homewood-Flossmoor
• LW Central
• Tinley Park
• LW East
13-3
Sean Hastings |
Contributing Editor
• Providence 28, Brother Rice 21.
Provi gets good win on the road in
a tight game.
• LW West
• Homewood-Flossmoor
• LW Central
• Tinley Park
• LW East
13-3
Steve Millar |
Sports Editor
• Brother Rice 24, Providence 20.
Defense, running game keep Celtics
in it but 2018 Class 8A runners-up
have a little too much at home.
• LW West
• Homewood-Flossmoor
• LW Central
• Tinley Park
• LW East
12-4
Jeff Vorva |
Sports Editor
• Brother Rice 27, Providence 20. Last
year, the Crusaders shut the Celtics
out, but that won’t happen this
year. Still, I like Rice’s home-field
advantage.
• LW West
• Homewood-Flossmoor
• LW Central
• Tinley Park
• LW East
11-5
Joe Coughlin |
Publisher
• Brother Rice 20, Providence 17.
Host Crusaders tame the Celtics’
potent offense.
• LW West
• Homewood-Flossmoor
• LW Central
• Tinley Park
• LW East
9-7
Heather Warthen |
Chief Marketing Officer
• Providence 21, Brother Rice 14.
Tough game, but Celtics take home
a victory on the road.
• LW West
• Homewood-Flossmoor
• LW Central
• Tinley Park
• LW East