Senior defensive back Jon Guch has experienced the highs and lows of Lincoln-Way East’s season, but he still believes the Griffins are capable of big things.
The first step was extending their conference championship streak Friday night.
“Our record doesn’t matter,” Guch said. “We’ve had some ups and downs this season, but we’re coming on strong and we’re ready for the playoffs.
“A lot of people doubted us this year because we have a lot of young kids starting on varsity, but everyone shows up ready to go. This was a big win.”
Guch had the biggest play of a huge defensive performance for Lincoln-Way East with an interception in the end zone during the third quarter as the Griffins clinched a share of their fifth straight SouthWest Suburban Blue title with a 12-10 win over host Lockport.
Lockport (7-1, 3-1) has to settle for sharing the SWSC Blue championship with the Griffins (6-2, 3-1). Nonetheless, it’s the Porters’ first title in the 17-year history of the conference.
They were unable, though, to snap a losing streak against Lincoln-Way East that reached 18 games.
Playing without injured starting quarterback Hayden Timosciek, who was limited to punting duties, Lockport trailed 12-3 at halftime but put together a long drive midway through the third quarter.
On second-and-goal from the 4-yard line, however, Guch leapt to intercept Brady Pfeiffer’s pass in the corner of the end zone.
“We saw it on film,” Guch said. “I knew it was coming and I was ready for it. They had a big rush down the field, and that’s a big upset when you pick the ball over there. That was a big turnover for the game, I believe.”
Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar agreed it was a big turnover.
“That was the game,” he said. “We still would have had the lead, but that was huge. We’ve always known Jon Guch is one of the shutdown corners in the state. He’s had a couple rough moments this year, but he responded in that moment there down in the end zone.”
Lockport pulled within 12-10 on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Pfeiffer to Ethan Gallagher with 31 seconds remaining in the game and had a chance to come up with the ensuing onside kick.
After the ball deflected multiple times, Trey Johnson pounced on it to seal the win for the Griffins.
“I saw one of my teammates tip it,” Johnson said. “It went up in the air. I knew I had to make a play on it. I knew what was at stake, and I wanted to go up and get it.”
Johnson was a workhorse for the Griffins, carrying 32 times for 114 yards.
Brennan Stolarek completed 10 of 15 passes for 141 yards, including TDs of 20 and 13 yards to Jack Tremblay, who added four catches for 94 yards.
Stolarek left the game in the fourth quarter after taking a big hit.
Timosciek, meanwhile, was sidelined due to an injury in last week’s overtime win over Bolingbrook, according to Lockport coach George Czart.
“He was practicing all week,” Czart said of Pfeiffer. “Hayden suffered an injury in the last game. He said he couldn’t throw at 100%. Our trainer didn’t clear him until maybe (Friday) but it was too late. (Pfeiffer) took all the snaps the whole week, so we played him.”
Pfeiffer completed 14 of 29 passes for 181 yards. Andrew Blackburn-Forst had two sacks for the Porters, while Danny Martisek added an interception and a fumble recovery.
“I’ve been a part of three state championship teams and only one of them was undefeated,” Czart said. “That’s the mentality. You lose, you gather yourself and you get back for the next one.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.