By Bobby Narang
Lockport has returned back to the State football championship game.
The Porters ended a long drought going back to 2003, when Lockport defeated Maine South 48-27 in the Class 8A final. In 2002, the Porters defeated Stevenson to capture the 8A championship.
Saturday, Nov. 20, the Porters knocked off previously undefeated Loyola Academy, 35-21, in an 8A semifinal to advance to the State championship game at Northern Illinois University at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27.
As fate could have it, the Porters, 12-1, will play Maine South, 12-1, in the 8A final. Lockport’s only loss this season came in a 12-10 decision to defending champion Lincoln-Way East, when Lockport starting quarterback Hayden Timosciek was sidelined with an injury.
“We’ve worked really hard for this,” Lockport coach George Czart said. “It was great that we had a chance and now we get to show people what these kids are made of. It’s pretty special.”
Timosciek led the way by throwing for 241 yards and three touchdowns to knock off the top-seeded Ramblers and coach head John Holecek.
“This just feels great,” Timosciek said. “We knew we had to throw a lot. At the beginning of the game, I was intimidated, but once I started rolling, I felt so much more confident in the ball.”
Maine South arrived in championship game by winning its final nine games, including a memorable 35-33 triumph over Marist in the semifinals. Head coach David Inserra is seeking his fifth State championship at Maine South.
“They are big, tough kids and they get after you,” Inserra said of Lockport’s defensive line.
• In Class 7A, Wheaton North, 12-1, pulled off an emotional 45-27 victory over Brother Rice to reach the championship game for the first time since capturing the 4A championship in 1981. The Falcons have a tough test against St. Rita, 11-2, which is led by Ohio State-bound running back Kaleb Brown.
Wheaton North has defeated teams with big-play offense or relied on stingy defense.
“We may not be the flashiest, but we’re capable of winning with different style,” Wheaton North headcoach Joe Wardynski said. “We had to score against Brother Rice and the week before we won a 10-3 game at Willowbrook.”