Junior Evan LeFevour won Lincoln-Way East’s quarterback competition in the preseason. The prize? Becoming the successor to Jonas Williams, the state’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns who is now playing at USC.
But LeFevour has tried not to think about who he is replacing. He has focused on his own strengths.
“There’s always expectations, but I was ready to fill my own shoes,” LeFevour said. “Not be anyone else. I just want to be myself. I’m not trying to emulate anyone else.
“I’m just ready to go.”
He sure was on Friday night. LeFevour threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a huge 62-yard strike to Landon Martinez on a trick play, as the host Griffins rallied to stun defending Class 7A champion Brother Rice 22-21 in a season opener in Frankfort.
Tommy McCracken kicked the winning 33-yard field goal for Lincoln-Way East (1-0) with 4:55 to go, earning the ultimate redemption after missing a field goal and an extra point earlier in the game.
“My team had my back every step of the way,” McCracken said. “I was just hoping I’d get that next shot and I did. I made up for it. I did all I could do and moved on from the mistakes I made.
“That was definitely the biggest moment of my life.”
LeFevour completed 16 of 26 passes for 173 yards for Lincoln-Way East, while Martinez hauled in three catches for 80 yards, Drew Harper had seven catches for 53 yards and a TD. Aidan Cavanaugh ran for 79 yards and a TD on 15 carries.
Central Michigan recruit Charlie Palmer and Nate Walenga each had an interception for the Griffins.
Freshman quarterback Sam Holcomb, who came off the bench and split time with senior Rocco Galasso, was impressive for Brother Rice (0-1). He completed 11 of 16 passes for 105 yards and a TD and ran for 59 yards and two more scores on four carries.
Kameron McGee added a sack and three tackles for loss for the Crusaders.
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Brother Rice led 21-13 with just under 10 minutes left when the Griffins broke out a double reverse flea-flicker, the ball going into the hands of two receivers in the backfield before getting tossed back to LeFevour, who hit Martinez deep for the 62-yard TD.
Lincoln-Way East missed the ensuing 2-point conversion, but the TD set the stage for McCracken’s heroics.
“We put that in this week,” LeFevour said. “It was a great play. We ran it the first play of that drive. It worked great. The O-line protected really well. I just threw a good ball and he had a good catch.”
LeFevour also plays baseball. He confirmed that he tried out just about every position on the football field growing up before settling in at quarterback in seventh grade.
“Playing quarterback, it definitely didn’t click right away,” he said. “I put in a lot of work and trusted the process. I always had a good arm in baseball so I knew I could do it on the football field, too.”
Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar was impressed with the way LeFevour was ready to step in.
“He just keeps working at his craft,” Zvonar said. “He’s not an overly vocal kid but he’s confident, he’s a good athlete. For his first real game as the varsity starting quarterback, to have those monsters coming after you, I think his poise was pretty good.”
LeFevour did get a chance to play late in the regular season last season when Williams was injured. LeFevour started Week 9 in a 21-13 loss to Sandburg.
That experience proved huge Friday night.
“It was great playing that game, even losing,” LeFevour said. “Without me playing in that game, I don’t think we win this game, honestly.
“I learned about being aggressive, trusting in what I’m seeing, not overthinking anything and just playing football.”