Wayteck finds way for Lincoln-Way Central
By Tim Tierney For Sun-Times Media September 29, 2012 12:28AM
Player of the game
Lincoln-Way Central running back Kyle Wayteck rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
Updated: November 1, 2012 6:46AM
Lincoln-Way Central and Joliet West went into their Friday night match-up knowing a fourth loss would put either team at the brink of missing the postseason.
With that in mind, Lincoln-Way Central running back Kyle Wayteck rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries before aggravating a shoulder injury late in the game to lead the Knights to a 25-8 SouthWest Suburban Blue victory in New Lenox.
“Last week I hurt it during the Lockport game, but it wasn’t anything serious,’’ Wayteck said. “Today it just got popped. I landed on it funny.’’
Wayteck had 12 straight carries in a time-consuming fourth-quarter drive that set up a 25-yard field goal by Kevin Mitchell to give Central an 18-8 lead with 3 minutes, 57 seconds left in the game.
“We just come out here and play our hearts out,’’ Wayteck said. “We wanted to win. It’s our homecoming week. We’re not going to stop. We’re going to play Central football.’’
Central (3-3, 2-2) has won one more game than it did all last season.
After an interception by Dominic Botta with 3:09 to play, Stephen Beck scored from six yards out for the final margin.
“Our defense is playing their tails off,’’ Central coach Brett Hefner said. “That’s why we do a lot of the things we do offensively.’’
One play after a blocked punt by lineman Ryan Gromnicki late in the third quarter, Wayteck’s 14-yard touchdown and two-point conversion put Central ahead 15-8.
Joliet West (2-4, 1-3) led 8-7 at halftime after a 66-yard touchdown run by Jordan Brown and a two-point conversion midway through the first quarter. Wayteck had opened the scoring with a 59-yard run on the second play from scrimmage.
It certainly doesn’t get easier for Central with road games against Lincoln-Way East and Bolingbrook next on the schedule.
“This is a fun time of year,’’ Hefner said. “We’ll see where we’re at. I think we’re playing better. We’ll see what happens.’’
