EVANS’ EAGLES
Sandburg was reeling at 1-4. Powerhouse Lincoln-Way East was the opponent. Then the junior quarterback took control.
Junior quarterback Christian Evans did not waiver in his belief that Sandburg had a team capable of doing big things this season.
The Eagles, however, were sitting at 1-4 and coming off a 42-0 loss to Lockport, and it seemed inevitable that 2019 Class 8A state champion Lincoln-Way East was going to end any dim playoff hopes they still had.
Evans had other ideas Friday night, throwing for 306 yards and three touchdowns and running for another TD as Sandburg stunned the Griffins 30-27.
“That was huge,” Evans said. “A lot of it was us trying to pick ourselves up because our record hasn’t been the best. But we knew what kind of team we are and we knew what we were capable of.
“The whole season, everyone’s been doubting us. We went out and proved that we’re the kind of team that we’ve known all along we are.”
It was Sandburg’s first win over Lincoln-Way East since 2007 and the first sign the Eagles are ready to do big things under new coach Troy McAllister.
“This means a lot,” said senior linebacker Kyle Peterson, who forced a fumble that led to the game-winning touchdown. “It’s great motivation and it’s a great push for the young kids coming up in the program. It’s great for the community.”
McAllister has seen Evans make big strides in his first varsity season. Friday night’s performance was his breakout game.
“It’s been week to week of getting better,” McAllister said. “The more experience he gets, the more he sees, he starts processing more and more information at a faster rate.
“He kept it simple and took what they gave him. He hit some underneath stuff early on, and then later in the game, he was able to hit some deep shots. We were missing the deep ball earlier in the year.”
Evans said he’s getting more
comfortable playing under the bright lights as a starting quarterback.
“It’s gotten easier to perform under pressure, playing in front of packed stands with everybody watching,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s just playing football.
“Coming out for that first game, it was obviously different. It was more exciting and more nerve-wracking. Now, once the first whistle blows, it’s just game time and I don’t really think about those things anymore.”
Providence picks Plantz: Providence named alum Tyler Plantz its next head coach. Plantz will replace Mark Coglianese, who is stepping down at the end of the season.
A Frankfort native and 2010 Providence graduate, Plantz played at Notre Dame and spent six seasons on the Fighting Irish coaching staff. He will become just the third coach in Celtics history, following Matt Senffner and Coglianese.
Plantz is the offensive line coach at Bethany in West Virginia, an NCAA Division III program.
“I think Tyler is a great hire,”
Coglianese said. “He knows the great tradition we have here. We have an outstanding group of freshmen and sophomores he will be inheriting. I think his time spent at Notre Dame will be a great asset to our program.”
Waiting game: Rich Township has gone to remote learning and shut down all athletic programs for the time being due to COVID19 issues.
The Raptors (4-2), who forfeited last week’s game against Kankakee, have already forfeited upcoming games with CreteMonee and Thornridge.
Rich Township hopes to return to practice Oct. 18 and take on Leo in its regular-season finale Oct. 22. The Raptors will need a win to be eligible for the playoffs.
“We hope we can get 100% participation and have everyone come back ready for that last game,” Rich Township coach Cornell Middlebrook said. “We’re happy to still have the chance to become a playoff qualifier and hopefully finish the season on a high note.”