Gonsoulin has the goods as Lockport prevails

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LOCKPORT -- Hard-charging Lockport High School running back Greg Gonsoulin won't forget Senior Night any time soon.

Gonsoulin ran like a man possessed between the tackles, and Lockport kept its state playoff hopes alive with a 32-7 SouthWest Suburban Conference victory over Stagg.

It was a must win for the Porters (4-4, 2-4), and the senior night crowd wasn't disappointed. Lockport spotted the Chargers a 7-6 edge and rolled to a 25-7 halftime advantage. The principal weapon was Gonsoulin, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder who entered Friday with 603 yards and a 4.5 rushing average. Gonsoulin's stats would be in for a significant boost.

He scored on 4 and 7-yard plunges prior to halftime and entered intermission with 182 yards on 25 carries. Lockport coach Bret Kooi used Gonsoulinn more conservatively after halftime, but the big senior had amassed 38 rushes and 269 yards by game's end.

Derek Pleva is a good complement for Gonsoulin's skill set. Pleva took the game's opening kickoff 47 yards, and he would add a dazzling 47-yard touchdown run prior to halftime. With Pleva and Gonsoulin providing plenty of running capability, Porter senior quarterback Scott Carroll could relax. Carroll threw 13 times for effect, but the night belonged to Gonsoulin.

"We have four seniors in that offensive line," Kooi said. ""THe line did a good job. Our runners did well in terms of exploiting the openings available to them. We had a good week of praactice and now it's on the line for us at Lincoln-Way East next week."

Carroll completed 5 throws for 50 yards. His 7-yard throw to Tony Pholl was his sixth scoring pass of the season.

Porter defenders entered Friday ageraging just 84 aerial yards a game. Stagg quarterback Marty McAlpin threw for 130, but he struggled for eery yard. The Porters forced McAlpin into 10-of-32 efficiency, and Lockport linebacker Tim Tomczak sacked him twice. Stagg finished with just 135 total yards and 6 first downs.

lockport rushed for 375 yards, including 300 prior to halftime. Gonsoulin capped the Porter night with a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter.

"I'm really proud of this group," Kooi insisted. "We just keep plugging away."

Stagg's no-huddle offense was no bargain. The Chargers had just 67 yards prior to halftime, and 43 of those yards came on McAlpin's touchdown throw to Eric Reeder.