L-W East Football Feels Right at Home in Normal

Matt Solner, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior defensive lineman for , wasn't too surprised when he got his number called on offense with 7:45 remaining in the second quarter of Friday night’s season opener against Edwardsville in Normal.

"I don't know how many of these I'll get," he said. "It's new to some, but we've had it going for a couple of years."

Solner responded on his only carry of the night for a 7-yard touchdown run in

For Griffins, Where There’s a Will …

William Will was dead-on accurate with a 35-yard field goal during the Griffins' opening drive. While there was little pressure on Will to deliver early on in the contest, there certainly could come a time this year when he’ll be called on to convert with a game on the line.

Where Will really shined Friday night was on kickoffs. He was kept very busy since the Griffins scored seven times in the first half. Will had six kickoffs for touchbacks in the opening two quarters, while his other kick was and downed at the 19-yard line.

"It was probably a win in all aspects," Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar said after Friday’s game. "It was all three phases—offense, defense and specials—and an adept performance from all."

‘Awesome’ to Play at ISU

With Normal serving as close to a midpoint site as possible for Lincoln-Way East and Edwardsville to meet, the players got a chance to play on a college field. The Illinois State Redbirds play at the Division I-AA level, and they’ve been successful, advancing to the Midwest Regional Championship in 1999 and 2006.

Hancock Stadium features a FieldTurf playing surface and had been home to the IHSA state championship games prior to the games moving to the University of Illinois in Champaign.

"It was awesome coming here," Griffins quarterback Blake Winkler said. "It's a great experience to get that first one out of the way at the college scene. It was fun to meet a team from the opposite end of the state here and see what they have to offer. Just a great experience."

L-W North Grad Beniac Named Sportsperson of the Year

The Illinois High School Association recently named Bo Beniac as an IHSA Sportsperson of the Year.

Beniac was a three-sport athlete for the Phoenix, earning a spot on the football, basketball and tennis teams. He was a team captain for the basketball and football squads and also shined academically as a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Varsity Club and Pi Sigma Pi. He also volunteered his time as a math peer guide.

Beniac will receive his award at the Illinois Principals Association conference in October. The award includes a plaque and a $500 scholarship.