Lockport’s late rally falls short

Result of the Homecoming Football Game 2016

Written by Brandon Wenzel, Staff Writer

The Porters recently welcomed in Southwest Suburban Conference foe Bolingbrook (2-3) in their week 6 game. The Porters were looking to capitalize off of momentum gained from a massive 42-16 win over Andrew in week 5. This win against Andrew had given the Porters their fourth win of the year, matching their total from last year. Also, the Porters record of 4-1 put them in a spot where a win against the Bolingbrook Raiders would clinch the team a spot in the 8A playoffs.

The scoring got started early as the Raiders turned a Lockport turnover into a 2-yard touchdown run. However, Bolingbrook was unable to capitalize on the PAT due to a poor snap, making the game 6-0

The Porters would come back and trim Bolingbrook’s lead to 3 with a 25-yard field goal from their senior kicker, Ben Davis. So at the end of the first quarter, the score was 6-3 in favor of Bolingbrook.

Bolingbrook would go on to score a crucial 64 yard touchdown pass, one of only 6 completions on the day, would end up being the only score during the second quarter. A successful PAT gave Bolingbrook a 13-3 lead going into half-time.

Lockport looked to get back in the game and did so by scoring first in the third quarter. A 4-yard touchdown pass from Ben Davis to junior wide receiver, Austin Hoffman, brought the score to 13-10 with about 6 minutes left in the third quarter.

Lockport was unable to capitalize on a Bolingbrook turnover after Lockport senior Nicholas Dado intercepted a tipped ball with a few minutes left in the third. The Porters would get in range for a long 35-yard field goal which missed wide left.

Bolingbrook would take advantage of the mistake extend their lead with a 5-yard rushing touchdown before the end of the third quarter. This score late in the third would leave Lockport one quarter to try and rally back from 20-10.

Lockport would respond with a rushing touchdown of their own. Early in the fourth quarter junior running back Jon Savage’s 3-yard touchdown run was part of the junior’s huge game in his first start at running back. Savage would end up finishing the game with 136 rushing yards on 30 attempts. A failed PAT attempt made the score 20-16

Ultimately the Porters defense was unable to stop Bolingbrook’s rushing game as the Raiders added another rushing touchdown making to give the Raider a 27-16 lead.

Lockport did come back and respond immediately with another passing touchdown coming from a 20-yard connection between Ben Davis and Austin Hoffman. An illegal motion penalty against the Porters negated a successful 2-point conversion and subsequently resulted in an unsuccessful 2-point conversion to bring the porters within five points, 22-27.

In the end, the Porters were unable to complete their late rally and could not capitalize on big games from Savage, Hoffman, and senior wide receiver Patrick Cooper. Although Cooper did not have a touchdown, he led all receivers with 104 yards on seven receptions.

The Porters (4-2) will look to rebound in week 7 and clinch a playoff spot in a conference game at Lincoln Way West (4-2), who have lost their last two games after a 4-0 start to the season.