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.

Five turnovers spell end for LW East
Five turnovers spelled disaster for Lincoln-Way East in a 17-16 loss to O'Fallon in the second round of the 7A playoffs on Friday night. The victory moves O'Fallon (8-3) on to face East St. Louis or Minooka in next weekend's quarterfinals. Lincoln-Way East (9-2) is eliminated from the second round for the second straight season.

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.

Blocked: Huskies fall short of finals
Benet, the top-seed in the Lockport Sectional was stretched by Downers Grove North in Tuesday's sectional semifinals, but the Redwings survived to play another day.

Fishing with daughter always hooks smiles
My daughter Lisa told me that she had about nine days off in October. It's something that doesn't happen often.

Time for Lemont's other stars to shine
Cody Kamberos ran for 101 yards on 5 carries and scored a touchdown in Lemont's 37-0 victory over Lincoln-Way North in the opening round of the 6A playoffs on Friday night. Lee Taylor caught 5 passes for 56 yards, including a 14-yard TD grab.

Van Gennep, Starke spark East blowout
Behind a balanced offensive attack, the Lincoln-Way East football team rolled to an easy 35-7 win over Belleville West in the opening round of the Class 7A playoffs Friday night.

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.

Lincoln-Way C. comes up on short end

NEW LENOX -- The 266-mile trip to O'Fallon from New Lenox probably seemed a lot shorter to the visiting Panthers than did the short walk to the locker room for the Lincoln-Way Central Knights.

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.

Bahena gives LWC boot
Lincoln-Way Central coach Dan Radz could only shake his head after watching his team fall 4-0 to Eisenhower in Tuesday night's Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional semifinal, but it wasn't because the Knights had lost.

Corn slows annual deer hunt trip
It was time to head back to the Rend Lake area for a week of deer hunting and fishing. It has come to be an annual thing for me to head south for early fall outdoors activities.

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.

'Brook's Martin makes L-Way C. feel sick
Jamel Martin wasn't feeling very good, but the senior tailback put aside his illness and helped Bolingbrook gain a share of the Southwest Suburban Blue football crown. He rushed for 172 yards on 23 carries and scored 4 touchdowns in a 26-13 victory over Lincoln-Way Central on Friday night at Lashmet Field.

L-Way East wraps up title share
Lincoln-Way East (8-1, 6-1) played near flawless football in the opening half, rolled to a 28-0 lead at the break and then claimed a share of the Southwest Suburban Blue title with a 35-14 win.

Phoenix's rise from 0-9 ashes complete
Lincoln-Way North dumped Andrew 10-0 in a do-or-die SWSC Red showdown Friday night.

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.

Providence gets its payback
Providence Catholic High School's boys soccer team got the rematch it wanted with Joliet Township, and the Celtics didn't waste it.

Events

L-Way N. takes the fifth -- win
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.

L-Way East delivers knockout blow
Austin Copley delivered the biggest hit. Copley's knockout blow forced a second-quarter fumble in Lincoln-Way East's 35-12 victory over district rival Lincoln-Way Central on Friday night at Lashmet Field. Pat Meehan recovered the loose ball on the Knights' 7.

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

'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.

Award is something to say loud, say proud
Every once in a while you have to take a moment and toot your own horn. Yes, when someone is proud of something, it's only right to "say it loud and say it proud."

Summit Hill takes third in state baseball
The Summit Hill Spartans' baseball team finished their 2009 campaign on a high note, with a 3rd place finish at the IESA Class 3A State Tournament last weekend in East Peoria. On Friday, the Spartans used a combined pitching performance from Erik Eggert, Brett King and Joey Frederikson, who allowed only one hit and struck out seven in a 7-0 shutout victory over Greenville Junior High.

L-Way Central runs to head of pack
The Lincoln-Way Central football team controls its own destiny. With no returning starters on offense, the Knights weren't expected to be contenders in the Southwest Suburban Blue. Now, if they win out, they will be conference champions.

3 if by air for the Brook
One is a freshman, the other has huge cast on his left arm to protect a broken thumb. Together, Bolingbrook High School wide receivers Aaron Bailey and Chris Williams combined to break the hearts of the Lincoln-Way East Griffins.

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.

Marmion overpowers Lincoln-Way West
Size mattered. At least it did Friday night in Lincoln-Way West's 45-35 loss to Marmion. The Cadets, using an offensive line that averaged 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, overpowered the Warriors, as did their big running backs.