Providence has close call against Oswego
In Friday night's Class 6A second-round playoff game against Oswego, Providence had to get it done in overtime. And sure enough, they had enough in the tank to remain alive.

Providence atop list of area title hopefuls
Dick Goss: The Joliet area has nine teams remaining in the state high school football playoff hunt, with second-round games on tap this weekend. And so far, we still have the potential to send a team to the championship game in any of the six classes from 3A through 8A.

'D' Bulls top LeBron
Would you believe the Bulls won for a second straight game because of their -- ahem -- defense? Believe it.

This Hammers' trade is special
Brandon McArthur has been acquired by the Joliet JackHammers for the playing rights of Michael Moore. But it hardly ranks as your average trade.

all goes according to plan
"Make no little plans," famously said the noted urban planner and architect Daniel Burnham.

Return to glory for Lockport XC teams
A year ago both the Lockport boys and girls cross country teams missed going to state. This year, the Porters are back. Lockport advanced both its boys and girls teams to state, each with fourth place finishes, in the Lockport Class 3A sectional Saturday at Dellwood Park.

Lemont turns it on, tops Bremen in PKs
In the championship game of the Class 2A Lemont Sectional -- which was moved away from the Indians' off-campus soccer facility to Lincoln-Way West -- Lemont prevailed in penalty kicks over Bremen 1-0.

Linne lifts Central past Lockport in playoffs
Naperville Central senior quarterback Nick Linne threw four touchdown passes — three to senior tight end Cam Brate — as the Redhawks scored 14 unanswered points in the second half to pull away from Lockport, 28-16, Friday night in a Class 8A first-round playoff game.

Providence rolls over Harlan in opener

NEW LENOX -- After battling and clawing its way to an 8-1 regular season finish and a Chicago Catholic League Blue Division championship, the Providence Catholic Celtics found that they had to get into the state playoffs before they could get a breather.

2010: Hammers play 50 at home
The Joliet JackHammers have announced their 2010 regular-season schedule, which includes 50 home games. The Hammers will begin play Friday, May 21, in Fargo, N.D., against the defending Northern League champion Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

The clock was Lemont's friend
Lemont applied constant pressure and felt some of it on its way to winning the Class 2A Lemont Regional title Oct. 24.

State football previews

Lemont, Lockport advance to sectionals
For your Saturday morning entertainment, how about a nice traipse through the mud?

Fabulous 15 in state football playoffs
Fifteen indeed was the magic number. That's how many Joliet area high school football teams have been invited to the postseason playoff extravaganza.

Providence pulls off late win over Mt. Carmel
Junior quarterback Joey Houlihan engineered a Catholic League Blue championship drive that pulled Providence Catholic from near certain defeat to an electrifying 17-14 win over Mt. Carmel.

7th win slips through Lockport's fingers
Lockport was stunned by a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns as Sandburg rallied for a 14-10 win in an old-fashioned Southwest Suburban Blue battle Friday night.

More of the same from Lemont
With a decisive 41-0 home victory against Tinley Park on Oct. 16, Lemont's defense notched its third consecutive shutout, the fourth shutout overall, its fifth game allowing fewer than 10 points, and has yet to yield more than 16 points in a game this season.

Lemont boys team finishes in fifth-place tie
Lemont arrived in Normal this past weekend with hopes of claiming a boys golf state championship.

JCA doubles pleasure in chilly sectional
The three matches contested under the lights Saturday night in Romeoville told pretty much the story of a long, cold day at the Bolingbrook Sectional Girls Tennis Tournament.

Foltys, Pancoska lead Lockport
The combination of seniors Niko Foltys and Max (Pancake) Pancoska sure sounded good for Lockport's football team. The duo came through in a big way to score on a pair of blocked punts as the Porters pulled away to defeat Joliet Township 41-6 in a SouthWest Suburban Blue matchup Saturday afternoon at Joliet West.

Providence holds on for victory
Providence held off a De La Salle comeback in a battle of division leaders Friday.

Lemont boys golf starts state today
The Lemont boys golf team begins its quest today to improve upon last season's sixth-place finish in Class 2A.

'Hammers offer Rush a piece of Joliet pie
The Joliet JackHammers have reached out to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh to become an investor in the franchise. Now that he will no longer be part of the group looking to purchase the St. Louis Rams, he may have some funds available to invest somewhere else.

Lockport golfer starts state today
Sophomore Krystal Garritson of Lockport begins competition today at the Class AA state meet at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale.

Bengals share in Mike Zimmer's grief
The fourth quarter was starting, and the game was getting crazy. In the Cincinnati Bengals defensive huddle, players blocked out the raucous Baltimore crowd and reminded each other that a lot more was at stake than first place. They were playing for someone special.

He did go home again
Things have certainly come full circle for Lemont High School head football coach Eric Michaelsen.

Curry makes Lockport victory a shoe-in
Brandon Curry got some new shoes and put them to good use. The senior cornerback had three interceptions as Lockport clamped down on defense and went on to a 27-6 high school football victory over Homewood-Flossmoor in a Southwest Suburban Blue matchup on Friday night.

Providence stops St. Rita
Statement? This was a statement. Providence Catholic went on the road and took control of the Chicago Catholic League Blue race Friday niht with a 10-0 upset over St. Rita.

Curry makes Lockport win a shoe-in
Brandon Curry got some new shoes and put them to good use. The senior cornerback had three interceptions as Lockport clamped down on defense and went on to a 27-6 high school football victory over Homewood-Flossmoor in a Southwest Suburban Blue matchup on Friday night.