It's all business as East routs JT

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FRANKFORT -- After turning the ball over six times in a 27-17 loss to Bolingbrook last week, Lincoln-Way East High School wanted to get back to business Friday against Joliet Township.

And just five plays into the game, the Griffins already owned a 14-0 lead and were well on their way to accomplishing their goal against the struggling Steelmen.

Lincoln-Way East piled up 28 points in the first quarter and took a 42-0 halftime advantage in rolling to a 63-7 Southwest Suburban Blue victory.

The 63 points tie a school record that the Griffins set in 2004 against JT. In addition, the 56-point margin of victory is another East record.

"After last week, this is just what this program needed," Griffins coach Rob Zvonar said. "We're proud of the kids for taking a business-like approach. We changed some things around in practice and focused on the fundamentals and we came out strong out of the gates.

"Without a doubt we wasted an opportunity last week, with all due respect to Bolingbrook. But you don't win or lose championships in Week 7 and you can't dwell on that game, you have to move on. This was a great step in the right direction for us."

East (7-1, 3-1) wasted no time in delivering an early knockout punch to JT (1-7, 0-4). On the fourth play of the game, Collin Sabal (3 carries, 70 yards) scored on a 49-yard run to put the Griffins up 7-0 just 2:01 into the game.

On JT's first play from scrimmage, sophomore quarterback Malcolm Allen was intercepted by Joe Kahlhammer, who returned the pick 28 yards for a touchdown.

When East got the ball back, the Griffins needed only one play to score again as Eric Sawicki grabbed a 78-yard pass from Spencer Stanek to make it 21-0 with 5:27 left in the first period.

On the next possession, Kahlhammer blocked a punt and East took over at JT's 20. Five plays later, Sabal went in from a yard out with 0:48 remaining in the opening quarter.

"On the interception, I just sat on top of the curl and the ball came to me," Kahlhammer said. "I was just at the right spot at the right time.

"We prepped them all week with punt block and we knew all of their schemes. We responded just how we wanted to and this game was just about taking care of business."

A short punt gave East the ball at JT's 23 early in the second quarter and the Griffins needed 3 plays to score to go up 35-0 when Justin Wittl caught a 20-yard pass from Ryne VanGennep.

The Griffins added another score on their next series when Ryan Levreau ran in from 11 yards out to make it 42-0 with 5:42 left in the half. They finished with 262 total yards in the first half.

Zach Reid (8 carries, 78 yards) scored on a 65-yard run late in the third quarter and added a 4-yard TD run early in the final quarter for a 56-0 lead.

JT finally got on the scoreboard with 2:37 left when John Woods (4-for-7, 80 yards) tossed a 31-yard scoring pass to D.J. Foster (6 catches, 96 yards).

East scored on the ensuing kickoff, however, after Alex Evans fumbled following a 40-yard return and Sam Eble picked up the loose ball and then covered the remaining 48 yards.

"We started a sophomore quarterback tonight because we wanted to see what he was capable of doing," JT coach Jason Aubry said. "But it's tough for a sophomore to come in and play against one of the state's best teams.

"Last week against Lockport we struggled moving the ball so we wanted to try something a little different and I think Malcolm has some good potential and he showed some good signs."