CN100 Game of the Week preview: Football - Lincoln-Way East vs. Bolingbrook
BOLINGBROOK – While Bolingbrook has become a dominant Class 8A team in the state, the Raiders' bugaboo has been Southwest Suburban Blue foe Lincoln-Way East.
The Griffins' loss to Homewood-Flossmoor three weeks ago was their first SSC Blue loss since Bolingbrook beat them in 2009. In that span, LWE dominated the whole conference; even as Bolingbrook went on to win the 2011 Class 8A state championship.
The two bitter rivals will be at it again at Bolingbrook Friday at 7:30 p.m., a game which will be broadcast by CN100. The game will be shown at Noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, and at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21. You can also find it throughout Chicagoland with Xfinity On Demand.
Once again, Bolingbrook is loaded with Division I talent, even after former quarterback Aaron Bailey went to Illinois, where he's seeing time as a true freshman. Without Bailey, they are running the ball the majority of the time these days. Bailey's replacement under center, Dariel Greer, is only 19-of-43 passing for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
But the Raiders have a three-headed monster at running back that has helped the team score 234 points in their 7-0 start to the season. Jaden Huff (93 carries, 585 yards, seven touchdowns), Mike Valentine (58 carries, 452 yards, eight touchdowns) and Quincy Woods (65 carries, 336 yards, four touchdowns) carry the load for Bolingbrook offensively.
Where the Raiders have hung their hat this season, however, has been on defense. Prior to last week's 31-24 overtime win over previously unbeaten Homewood-Flossmoor the Raiders had allowed only one offensive touchdown all season.
Cornerback Parker Westphal is an uncommitted senior who is drawing massive recruiting attention. He is a consensus top-100 player in the nation. Sophomore linebacker Tuf Borland, who leads the team with 59 tackles, is a top sophomore in the country. Defensive tackle Micah Dew-Treadway is receiving offers from SEC schools, following in the footsteps of former Bolingbrook linebacker Antonio Morrison, who is playing at Florida.
Juniors Jacob and Julian Huff, twin brothers of senior running back Jaden, have also made big impacts defensively. C.J. Clark has done the job opposite Westphal at the other corner position.
Lincoln-Way East's top recruit is center Nick Allegretti, who is committed to Illinois. He is slated to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January. He is snapping to senior Jordan Wirtz this season. Wirtz takes over for dynamic quarterback Tommy Fuessel, who is now at Northwestern. He led the Griffins to last year's Class 7A state championship game, a game the Griffins lost to Glenbard West in the quest for the program's second state championship.
The success under coach Rob Zvonar since the program was started 13 years ago is nothing short of remarkable. LWE has made the playoffs every season, and Zvonar is now 121-28 overall as the coach.
Brian Casey leads the way at running back for the Griffins. Colin O'Connell is one of Wirtz's top targets in the passing game.
- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent
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