A potent ground attack was the main cog in Lincoln-Way North’s first six wins this football season, but it was an opportunistic defense that carried the day on Friday.
The host Phoenix forced four turnovers, three in the red zone, to help forge a 28-26 Southwest Suburban Red triumph over previously unbeaten Thornton in a game that wasn’t decided until the Wildcats’ pass for a 2-point conversion after a last-minute touchdown sailed through the end zone.
“A lot of games can be won on defense with changes in momentum like the ones we had tonight,” said Lincoln-Way North linebacker Dave Lux, who had the first of two fourth-quarter interceptions of Thornton quarterback Sam Taylor III. “We had to keep up with their speed and continue to hit them hard, even when they were marching down the field.”
Thornton’s last-minute effort at tying the game culminated with Taylor’s 32-yard scoring toss to Tionte McDaniel with 28 seconds remaining. Trailing 28-26, the Wildcats (6-1, 4-1) were forced to go for two but Taylor’s pass in the right corner of the end zone was too strong for Master Powell to reel in.
Host Lincoln-Way North (7-0, 5-0) went up 28-20 four minutes earlier on Joe Peters’ 30-yard run, his second rushing score of the night. That drive started after the Phoenix’s fourth takeaway, an interception by cornerback Aric Feller.
“I blame this loss on myself,” Taylor said. “I made some mistakes at the wrong time tonight and I can’t do that as the leader of this offense.”
Peters paced the Phoenix’s ground game, which accounted for 258 of the team’s 293 yards of offense. He deflected all of the credit to his offensive line, which routinely had the Wildcat defensive front on its heels.
In fact, quarterback Jake Arthur made his only pass completion of the night count: a 35-yard third-quarter toss to Drew Slager that put his club ahead 21-12. McDaniel’s 8-yard touchdown run (and 2-point run) four plays later cut the Wildcats’ deficit to 21-20 but Lux and Feller picks ended Thornton’s next two possessions.
“It’s nothing about me; it’s all because of the offensive line,” Peters said. “If it weren’t for the holes they make, I couldn’t get any of this yardage. They did a great job again tonight.”
The Phoenix’s ability to stop Thornton’s big-play offense paid dividends. Despite churning out more than 400 total yards, there were large blocks of time that Taylor and Co. were on the sideline.
The Phoenix also have big dreams and whatever they accomplish the rest of the way will be the last chapter of the program’s history.
“We all know the school is closing down so we all want to make as many memories as we can this fall,” Peters said.
St. Laurence 63, Aurora Christian 24: Alex Martinez threw for 202 yards four TDs to boost St. Laurence (5-2, 3-0 Catholic White).
Lockport 49, Stagg 26: Matt Skobel (15 carries, 231 yards, 3 TDs) vaulted Lockport (2-5, 2-3 SWSC Blue). Josh Sterling had three scoring receptions for Stagg (1-6, 0-5).
Lemont 45, Hillcrest 0: Spencer Nagel (22-for-26, 255 yards, 4 TDs) sparked Lemont (6-1, 4-0 SSC Blue). Hillcrest fell to 4-3, 2-2.
Bloom 32, Kankakee 26: Quarterback Cornell Washington (5-yard run) scored with 16 seconds remaining to lift Bloom (3-4, 2-1 Southland).
Shepard 42, Oak Lawn 0: R.J. Collins (16 carries, 123 yards, 3 TDs) powered Shepard (3-4, 2-3 SSC Red). Oak Lawn is 1-6, 1-4.
De La Salle 28, Marmion 7: Tom Duddleston (252 yards passing, 2 TDs) steered De La Salle (3-4, 2-1 Catholic Green).
Lincoln-Way West 54, Thornridge 6: Gabe Montalvo (118 yards rushing, 3 TDs) paced Lincoln-Way West (6-1, 4-1 SWSC Red). Thornridge is 1-6, 0-5.
Crete-Monee 45, Rich Central 9: Marcus Kidd (2 TD receptions) spurred Crete-Monee (6-1, 4-0 Southland). DeShawn Jones (TD run) starred for Rich Central (5-2, 3-1).
Sandburg 35, Joliet West 14: Alec Fidan (TD pass) aided Sandburg (6-1, 5-0 SWSC Blue).
Reavis 44, T.F. South 14: Isiah Alpuche accounted for five TDs in leading Reavis (6-1). T.F. South is 3-4.
Marist 41, Marian Catholic 7: Brendan Skalitzky (4 TD passes) guided Marist (5-2, 4-1 ESCC). Victor Akinyemi had a 60-yard scoring catch for Marian Catholic (1-6, 0-5).
St. Rita 56, St. Joseph 0: Running back Shaun Rule contributed four first-half TDs for St. Rita (3-4).
Bradley-Bourbonnais 38, Thornwood 14: Jamar Howard (TD run) led Thornwood (1-6, 0-5 SWSC Red).
Lincoln-Way Central 17, Andrew 7: Nico Muto (8 carries, 117 yards) had a 1-yard TD run for Lincoln-Way Central (4-3, 3-2 SWSC Red). Ryan Summers (TD pass) led Andrew (2-5, 1-4).
Bishop McNamara 24, Providence 14: Mike Markasovic scored both TDs for Providence (2-5).
T.F. North 32, Bremen 20: Anthony Watkins (159 yards rushing, 4 TDs) elevated T.F. North (3-4, 1-4 SSC Blue). Bremen is 1-6, 0-5.
Saturday’s GamesFootball
Ag. Science 46, Hope 6: Jordan Horton (2 TD runs) led Ag. Science (5-2, 4-1 Public Great Lakes).
College Football
St. Francis 25, St. Ambrose (Iowa) 10: Don Butkus (169 yards, 2 TDs) propelled St. Francis (5-1, 2-1 MSFA Midwest). Eli Spann added a 93-yard kickoff return for a TD, the longest in school history.
Concordia (Mich.) 35, St. Xavier 14: Nick Borgra (14 carries, 79 yards, TD) paced St. Xavier (4-2).
Steve Reaven is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown. Daily Southtown staff contributed to this story.
