JT does it, stops 17-game slide

CHICAGO -- The key word to describe Joliet Township High School's football players after Saturday night's 28-24 nonconference win over St. Ignatius was "elation."

It was the first win of the season for the Steelmen (1-3). And to say that JT coach Jason Aubry was happy would be an understatment after the snapping of a 17-game losing streak.

"A victory any time is a tremendous thing," Aubry said. "Where we are at right now, we need the taste of a victory in our mouth."

But during the early going, St. Ignatius (2-2), coached by former Joliet Catholic Academy and University of Illinois lineman Mike Maloney, owned a 12-0 lead after the first quarter.

The first Wolfpack score came when John Reynolds recovered a JT fumble in the end zone on the game's opening kickoff.

St. Ignatius' second TD came with 7:49 left in the first quarter when Mike Javorski ran it 77 yards on an inside counter.

However, the Steelmen bounced back and took an eventual 14-12 lead.

Senior quarterback Justin Stephenson hit receiver D.J. Foster on a 6-yard touchdown pass with 9:45 remaining in second-quarter play. That touchdown play came on a fourth-and-goal from the 6. It was an impressive 74-yard, 17-play scoring drive.

JT took a 14-12 lead with 2:32 left in the first half when Stephenson connected with Ronald Jordan on a 4-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-goal.

The Wolfpack, though, responded with a 5-play, 67-yard scoring drive which was capped by Javorski's 5-yard run with 24 seconds left in the half.

That St. Ignatius TD gave the Wolfpack a 18-14 halftime lead.

"We lit a fire under their tails in the second half," Aubry said. "Our kids came out firing and did some great things. We are happy with how the guys responded in the second half."

Stephenson, who completed 21-of-40 passes for 269 yards and 3 TDs, put the Steelmen ahead for good at 21-18 with 5:56 left in the third quarter. He fired a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Broadway.

On that touchdown play, Stephenson had to leave the pocket and found a streaking Broadway who was crossing over the middle.

"For not being a mobile quarterback, Justin did some good things for us on the move," Aubry said. "Our receivers did a great job of staying with him."

Foster, a senior, caught 9 passes for 122 yards. Jordan had 7 catches for 75 yards. Jordan scored the Steelmen's final touchdown on a 15-yard run with 1:02 left in the third quarter.

"Coach called some great plays," Stephenson said. "My receivers were there. I just put the ball up in the air and they grabbed it."

The Wolfpack cut the margin to 28-24 with 6:25 left in the game. Quarterback Alex Sener scored on a 4-yard run.

St. Ignatius had a chance with 3:39 left. But JT's defense stuffed the Wolfpack on their 45. JT senior linebacker Corey Gualandi made 2 tackles for losses in the deciding series.

JT senior defensive lineman Donnell White finished the game when he sacked Senor for a 10-yard loss on fourth down.

"We came hard on defense and we put on a good show," Gualandi said. "We just got fired up. We are a fourth-quarter team. We showed that tonight."