Lincoln-Way West treated the football like a greased pig.
The Warriors fumbled eight times and lost four of them in the rain at the home of Southwest Suburban Red rival Lincoln-Way North, which did just enough offensively to win 7-3 on its homecoming Friday in Frankfort.
Lincoln-Way West (3-2, 2-1) lost all four of those fumbles and also threw an interception in the first half. Remarkably, Lincoln-Way North (3-2, 1-2) converted only one of those giveaways into a score even though four of them gave them the ball in Warriors territory.
“We’ll address that big-time,” Lincoln-Way North coach George Czart said. “That’s been our problem the last couple weeks. We haven’t been able to score points. We’ve been getting turnovers but not cashing in on them.”
The game’s lone touchdown came after Lincoln-Way North defensive lineman Brett Buhe recovered a fumble by the Warriors on their 6-yard line. On the next play, Tre Lewis took a pitch on the right side and looked to pass. When he couldn’t find an open receiver, he tucked the ball under his arm and ran around the left side for a touchdown.
“It was a designed throwback to the quarterback and he tripped,” Lewis said. “I saw it and I just tried to reverse field as quickly as I could.”
“That’s why we have to have Tre on the field because he’s a guy that makes things happen,” Czart said. “When things look bleak, he can make some kids miss. That’s why he’s out there.”
The home team continued to have trouble scoring despite good field position in the second half. Lewis returned the kickoff at the start of the third quarter 48 yards to the visitors’ 26, but the Phoenix failed to score after having a first-and-goal situation at the 8. They were stuffed on a fourth-and-inches run.
Lincoln-Way West threatened to tie the game in the middle of the fourth quarter. The Warriors earned a first-and-goal situation at the 7, but their eighth fumble caused them to settle for Cole Lukanus’ 34-yard field goal that made it 7-3 with 5:04 left.
The visitors’ final drive stalled on the home team’s 42 with 1:52 remaining.
“Our defense did an outstanding job all night,” Lewis said.
Lincoln-Way West coach Mark Vander Kool did not use rain as an excuse for his team’s turnovers.
“They didn’t turn the ball over,” Vander Kool said of the Phoenix. “We just got to handle the ball better.”
Before the game, Lincoln-Way North ran out for warmups wearing its new all-black uniforms to AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and congregated at midfield. Lincoln-Way West followed suit in its all-white uniforms and went to midfield too. There was some bumping between teams before the referees separated them to their sides of the field.
Player of the game:
Tre Lewis, Lincoln-Way North, 11 carries, 50 yards, TD.
Key performers:
Lincoln-Way West — Nick Dangles, 25 carries, 120 yards. Lincoln-Way North — Brett Buhe, fumble recovery.
