Lincoln-Way Central shuts down Joliet Central
By Tim Tierney For Sun-Times Media October 20, 2012 12:56AM
Evan Panfil
Player
of the game
Lincoln-Way Central
defensive end Evan Panfil had two sacks in the win.
Updated: November 22, 2012 6:46AM
Lincoln-Way Central’s Tyler Hosman picked off a pass on the first play of the game and defensive end Grant Bartell had a first-quarter safety as the Knights’ defense set the tone Friday night in a 37-0 SouthWest Suburban Blue victory over visiting Joliet Central.
The defensive front of Bartell, Evan Panfil, Ryan Gromnicki and Joe Lyman and linebackers Matt Schneider, Brian Goss and Brandon Egan stood out in the season finale.
Lincoln-Way Central (4-5, 3-4) won twice as many games as last season. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Panfil, a three-year starter, had two sacks against Joliet Central (0-9, 0-7) in his final high school game.
“I try to look at it that we’ve gone from 1-8 to 2-7 to 4-5,’’ Panfil said. “We’re obviously going in the right direction. All these guys have done a great job.’’
Central scored three second-quarter touchdowns to go ahead 30-0 at halftime.
Sean Studer’s 11-yard run capped a 43-yard drive after the safety. Studer had a 1-yard scoring plunge and Jeremy Wilson ended the half with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Brian Wildman.
Wilson opened the scoring with a 1-yard dive that was set up by Hosman’s interception nine plays earlier.
“I think we’ve improved quite a bit program-wise,’’ Central coach Brett Hefner said. “Obviously we’re not where we wanted to be right now. We wanted to be playing next week.’’
