November 14, 2024
Sports

Prep roundup: Lemont football wins big before showdown with Oak Forest

By SUBURBAN LIFE

Lemont's Jeremy Fejedelem heads upfield after catching a pass on Sept. 25 during a home game against Tinley Park. Fejedelem had two touchdown catches in a 45-0 win against Hillcrest on Oct. 9. (Mark Busch)

Lemont’s football team wasn’t thinking about anything other than Hillcrest on Oct. 9.

But the Indians still served notice to Oak Forest before the two teams meet in a key South Suburban Blue game Oct. 16.

Lemont cruised past Hillcrest 45-0 to post its first shutout of the season and continue an impressive streak.

Since a Week 3 loss against Richards on Sept. 11, the Indians have won four straight games in decisive fashion by a combined score of 193-25.

Lemont (6-1 overall, 4-0 South Suburban Blue) struck early and often against Hillcrest (4-3, 2-2).

Spencer Nagel and Jeremy Fejedelem hooked up for a 23-yard touchdown, and Matt Dunne then capped a 70-yard drive with a 1-yard run.

Nagel had a 1-yard quarterback sneak, Dunne went 36 yards virtually untouched up the middle for a touchdown, and Nagel found Fejedelem wide open behind the defense for an 80-yard score. Nagel passed for 255 yards, and Dunne rushed for 128 yards.

Late in the game, Josh Rogers had a 17-yard pick-six to cap the scoring for Lemont.

The defense was unyielding the entire game. Lemont gave up just 61 yards of total offense to the Hawks, and Hillcrest had negative yardage on the ground.

Lemont will be looking for another strong performance from the rush defense against an Oak Forest team that employs a run-heavy wing-T offense.

BOYS GOLF

Matt Retzke scored a 78 and Raymond Sullivan had a 79 as Lemont’s boys golf team earned the third and final team state qualifying berth at the Class 2A Nazareth sectional Oct. 12.

Matt Grasman (83) and Charlie Cannon (84) contributed to Lemont’s 324 score. Jack Lund and Mike Durkin also played well.

The Indians will aim for the title at the state tournament, which takes place Oct. 16 and 17 at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University.

GIRLS GOLF

Competing at the Class AA Neuqua Valley sectional Oct. 12, Lemont freshman Maggie Micetich carded a 77 to qualify for the state tournament Oct. 16 and 17 at Hickory Point Golf Club in Decatur.

GIRLS TENNIS

Lemont capped a dominant South Suburban Blue season with a superb showing at the conference tournament Oct. 10.

The Indians won all five brackets and were challenged only at No. 1 doubles, where Gabby Robianski and Ashley Mathews prevailed 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

The Indians won the rest of their titles in straight sets.

Anna Ford didn’t drop a game in winning at No. 2 singles, while Grace Horky won 6-1, 6-1 in a semifinal before sweeping for the title at No. 1 singles.

Liz Blickhahn and McKenna Harbison won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles, and Sara Brenza and Breanna Joyanov were 6-3, 6-1 winners at No. 3 doubles.

Lemont will aim for a similar showing when it competes at the Sandburg sectional Oct. 16 and 17.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Lemont placed all five of its scoring runners in the top 10 at the Jimmy Daniels invite Oct. 10.

Gabby Voltarel led the way in second place with a time of 18:42. She was followed in succession by Taylor Campos (18:52), Beata Drozda (19:07) and Bridget Kunkel (19:16).

Claire Gagen (ninth, 19:39) rounded out the scoring quintet as Lemont won the title with 23 points.

Celine Ratulowski and Brianna Carlson also ran well for the Indians.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

Chris Konicki (18th overall, 16:58) was Lemont’s top runner at the Jimmy Daniels invite Oct. 10.

Gavin Pawell, Adam Scribano, Matt Freese and Zach Heatherington rounded out Lemont’s top five as the team finished 11th.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Shepard defeated Lemont 25-19, 25-12 on Oct. 13. Beth Cannon had seven kills and Marisa Burton 10 assists to lead the way for Lemont.

Lemont previously topped Reavis 25-13, 25-23 with Cannon tallying six kills and Hannah Olson adding five kills.

BOYS SOCCER

After capping the regular season against Tinley Park on Oct. 15, Lemont will get set for Class 2A postseason play. The Indians are the No. 4 seed in the Lincoln-Way West sectional and will face No. 13 Joliet Catholic in a regional semifinal at 4:45 p.m. Oct. 20 at Lemont High School Sports Complex.

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Week 8 outlook

Who: Oak Forest at Lemont

When: 7 p.m. Oct. 16

Where: 800 Porter St., Lemont

Records: Oak Forest 7-0 (4-0 South Suburban Blue), Lemont 6-1 (4-0)

Outlook: The de facto South Suburban Blue title game pits two high-powered offenses against two stout defenses. The Bengals have scored 281 points this season (40.1 per game) while the Indians come in scoring just over 30 points per game. Lemont’s defense is the best in the SSB as it is giving up less than 10 points per game so far this season.