September 26, 2017– What a game Friday. I love black and white photos, but this was such a great game and the blue and red colors are so much a part of the story, these images had to be posted in color.
To love competition, to know your opponent well, to know the memory of winning will still get players and fans fired up at Christmas, this is what makes a rivalry game bigger than other games. Record-breaking heat seemed completely appropriate for this night.
Three hours before kickoff, parking was tough to find. By game time the stands were absolutely jammed, extra seating in the end zones was packed, and fans lined the fence around the field. The best guess I heard was more than 7,000 people watched this game.
Lincoln-Way Central came out with a game plan ready to play. Their intensity and execution carried them to a 14-0 lead at half.
Half. Incomplete. Not-yet finished. While fans re-hydrated at the concession stands, and reporters discussed the possibility of an upset, the Griffins coaches and players discussed the first half and laid out a plan for the second half.
Football is a team sport. After watching the Griffins’ first four games this year, I would tell you the strength of the team is in the line–both on offense and defense. Watch the big fellas work. They move opponents. They make plays happen. In the second half against LWC. . . well. . . A.J. Henning and Branden Morrissey ran wild in the open spaces created by the big boys. A.J.’s speed changes how a defense plays, and the catch he made down the sideline demonstrated his soft hands and focus, but make no mistake, the athleticism of the ‘skill’ players is only easy to see when the O line leads the way.
For those who compete, winning is a just reward for effort. For those of us who watch, witnessing determination makes for an enjoyable evening.
Next up, HF. An 8A state championship is not a goal for the faint of heart.
AC photo 22 