Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
The Joliet West Tigers (3-4,3-4) did not let their nine penalties for 90-yards determine the outcome of the Saturday afternoon affair with the Plainfield Central Wildcats (1-6, 1-6), as they made it three wins in a row after defeating Central by a score of 41-28.
“When you look at our first four opponents, one of them is 7-0, and two of them are 6-1, but even in those games, we fought hard,” said Joliet West coach Bill Lech, “Our kids continue to improve and get better, and that’s all that we ask of them.”
Central struck first in the ball game after a two-yard pitch and catch from junior quarterback James Buck (3-for-6 for 18 yards) to junior receiver Kyle Gockman that gave the Wildcats an early 7-0 lead with 7:40 remaining in the first quarter.
West retaliated just three minutes after the early deficit with a 19-yard reception by senior receiver Kevon Dorris (4-102 receiving) from senior quarterback Alfonso Sanchez (12-19, 182).
“[Sanchez] did a great job scrambling left, dodged the defender, scrambling right and then throwing the ball across the field to hit me,” Dorris said.
The Tigers special teams wanted to get in the action as well, as they did just that, by blocking a Wildcat punt with just two minutes remaining in the first quarter which resulted in the safety.
Starting the second quarter off with a three-yard touchdown run and 42-yard interception return by the Tigers sophomore running back Trent Howland (22,55 rushing) and junior cornerback Kinsyn Shelby, the Wildcats quickly responded and went into halftime with some momentum following a 71-yard pass and catch from Nicholas Barner (14-31, 240) to Tomas Scianna.
Sophomore running back Trent Howland breaks free in route to a 41-28 conference victory. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)
Beginning the second half down 21-14, the Wildcats couldn’t continue the momentum much long after a 45-yard interception returned to the house by senior cornerback Tyler Barnette, followed by another touchdown run by Howland.
“All week the defensive backs talked about how it was going to be on us to win this game,” Barnette said. “The front seven did their job stopping the run and forcing them to pass, so on my return I was just patient on the [hitch route] and when I saw my opportunity I just took it.”
The Wildcats would go on to score once more in the third quarter and once in the fourth, but West put an exclamation mark on its three-game winning streak after a 33-yard touchdown reception by DJ Dobbs from Sanchez.
Throughout the entire game, both teams had a surplus of penalties, most notably in the final quarter of play, with a targeting penalty called on Barnette after colliding with Wildcat senior receiver Reese Lillie (5, 54).
“Because there was some of those kind of penalties on the other team my guys got lost in that a little bit,” said Jon Pereiro, Plainfield Central head coach. “We train them in every way to not get lost in that kind of stuff, and unfortunately we did today.”
Central receiver Reese Lillie goes up for a touchdown grab against West defender. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)
West will look to win their fourth game in a row at 7 p.m. Friday against Minooka in Joliet.