Lemont KOs Morgan Park
By Jeff Vorva For Sun-Times Media October 27, 2012 10:30PM
Lemont's Rick Sniegowski (22) touchdown catch and run vs Morgan Park at the IHSA class 6A playoffs held at Lemont, Illinois on Saturday, October 27, 2012. | Larry Kane~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 29, 2012 6:37AM
Lemont’s mastery over the Public League continues.
The Indians whipped Morgan Park 45-0 on Saturday night in Lemont in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. Since Eric Michaelsen took over as the team’s head coach in 2003, his team has gone 12-0 against Public League teams and outscored them 576-69.
The Indians (9-1) will visit Richards (9-1) in the second round.
Morgan Park (6-4) appeared ready to score quickly on its fourth play from scrimmage. Quarterback Andre Newell hit Theodore Jones with a 40-yard completion. Jones caught the ball at the Lemont 6 and dragged a couple of defenders five yards before he was hit by defensive back Matt Luzzo. The ball popped loose, and Luzzo recovered in the end zone. It was all Lemont the rest of the way.
“(Assistant) coach (John)Howell always said never to give up on plays,” Luzzo said. “He carried the ball loose and I grabbed it. We prepared all week for their speed. It’s the fastest team we played and we had to play fast. Luckily, I got the fumble and prevented the touchdown.”
“We teach to play until the end of the play,” Michaelsen said. “That’s an example of hustle turning into something good for us.”
Luzzo had an interception and another fumble recovery in the first half to help the Indians to a 31-0 halftime lead.
On offense, running back Chris Giatras had just 14 yards on his first nine carries but heated up after that and finished with 147 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. Backup running back Julio Aleman had 106 yards on seven carries and a score as the Indians racked up 410 yards.
Quarterback Zach Brosseau was 6-of-9 for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Rick Sniegowski had a 46-yard TD reception and an 8-yard rushing score. Drew Slee caught three passes for 72 yards and a score.
“Morgan Park’s defense is fast and physical and it took us a while to see what was going on and make whatever adjustments we needed to,” Michaelsen said.
Morgan Park is 6-4 and will play in the Prep Bowl playoffs. It marks the fourth time in five years the Mustangs were eliminated from the state playoffs by the Indians.
Newell was 3-of-19 for 92 yards ran for 39 yards. Charles Bournes added 46 rushing yards and caught a 28-yard pass.
