L-Way N. takes the fifth -- win

DOLTON -- One goal down, one to go for the Lincoln-Way North football team.

The Phoenix (5-3, 5-0) picked up their fifth win of the season Saturday afternoon, defeating Southwest Suburban Red rival Thornridge 26-6.

"These kids love to play football," North coach George Czart said. "Two of the goals before the season were to win five games and to be conference champs. We have one, and now we want that second one.

Lincoln-Way North took the opening kickoff and used 14 plays to cover 67 yards. The Phoenix used five different running backs. and Colin Hannigan scored on a 2-yard run to make it 6-0.

With 1:40 left in the first quarter, North's punter put his knee down while receiving the snap, giving the Thornridge the ball at the Phoenix 19. Thornridge scored on a 14-yard pass from Jacolby Owens to Mika'il McCall to tie the game at 6.

Later in the second quarter, Alex McInerny scored on a 15-yard run for a 12-6 Lincoln-Way North lead.

At the start of the third quarter, Thornridge received the ball and, on the second play, Juan DeLeon recovered a fumble for North at the Thornridge 15. Tait Erickson then scored on a 2-yard run for a 19-6 lead with 8:54 to play in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, North capped the scoring on a 1-yard run by Hannigan, capping a 7-play, 30-yard drive set up when Dylan Kwiatkowski sacked Owens on fourth down.

McInerny led a balanced North rushing attack with 54 yards, while Erickson ran for 52 and Hannigan 42.

"I was disappointed in the first half," Czart said. "We had some uncharacteristic penalties. But, our defense took care of the offense, and our offense was able to take care of the short field that was handed to us.

"We have a lot of different kids -- 3 or 4 backs. It seems like every game, someone different steps up in the backfield. The offensive line was the key to the game for us. They played steady and Erickson never got sacked.

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