FRANKFORT -- After scoring a safety in 29-0 victory over Homewood-Flossmoor High School two weeks ago and returning an interception 38 yards for a score in a 34-0 rout of Bradley-Bourbonnais last week, Jay Corbett felt the needle.
From the Lincoln-Way East coaching staff, no less.
Ah, but he fixed all of that Friday night, big time.
"The coaches told me I was a minor-game playmaker," Corbett said. "I had to prove I can be a big-game playmaker."
Corbettt blocked the punt of Lincoln-Way Central's Scott Secor and scrambled to fall on it in the end zone, increasing the Griffins' lead to 21-0 with 1:19 left in the first quarter. East rode that momentum to a 42-14 Southwest Suburban Red victory before a standing-room-only crowd.
"Yeah, our coaches, they can motivate us real well," Corbett added with a smile.
Corbett transferred in from Kankakee for this, his senior season. He was a quarterback for the Kays but now does all his damage as a defensive back and special teams player.
"That was my first block ever; I never used to do this," Corbett said. "When I released at the line of scrimmage, I knew I had a good shot at it."
Going ahead by three touchdowns late in the first quarter in battle of previous unbeatens provides a good example of the kind of night East (5-0, 1-0) enjoyed. The Griffins clicked on all cylinders.
"Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern talks about reaching the magnificent place where offense, defense and special teams all work together," East coach Rob Zvonar said.
"Well, all three clicked for us tonight. This was the fastest start against a good opponent that I can remember having since we've been here. We always talk about throwing the first punch -- not literally, of course -- and that's what we did tonight."
After Central's Chase Davis (14 carries, 78 yards) broke a 32-yard run on the game's first play from scrimmage, East stopped the Knights (4-1, 0-1) on downs, with linebacker Pete Merenowicz stifling Davis on fourth down.
That served to usher in the Spencer Stanek Show, and the Griffins senior quarterback was nothing short of remarkable. He wound up throwing 15 passes, none of which hit the turf. He completed 14 for 216 yards and the 15th was a second-quarter interception by Central linebacker Pete Damiani.
"It was awesome tonight," Stanek said. "Our offensive line was great, the running game opened up the passing game ... it all went well."
Nothing like a little revenge to sweeten the night.
It felt especially good because they beat us sophomore year," said Stanek, who found Eric Sawicki for 30- and 33-yard touchdown passes to open the scoring. "We wanted to avenge that loss."
In addition to Stanek's pinpoint accuracy, East rushed for 169 yards for a 385 total to go with 21 first downs.
"We got off to a tough start," Central coach Tim Dougherty said. "We made some mistakes, but I have to credit East. They made the plays they needed to make. They were the better team."
Central was down 21-0 when Damiani intercepted and returned it 33 yards to the East 23. Two plays later, Davis battled his way to the end zone from 20 yards out to chop the deficit to 21-7.
But despite some good work by lineman Zach Carlson and Damiani, among others, Central's defense never could stop East's offense, not with Stanek and his bevy or receivers performing as they were. Sawicki caught 4 passes for 72 yards, all in the first quarter, and fullback Collin Sabal chipped in with 3 catches for 56 yards.
After Central trimmed the deficit to 21-7, the Griffins drove 80 yards in 7 plays, scoring on Stanek's third touchdown pass, a 9-yarder to Kevin Starke. Moments later, East regained possession, thanks in part to Ryne Diehl's sack, and drove 55 yards in 9 plays, Starke scoring from a yard out to make it 35-7 at the half.
East drove deep into Central territory to open the second half but fumbled, with safety Terrence Townsend recovering, and the Knights marched 90 yards to a score. The big play was quarterback Kyle Plarski's 40-yard keeper. A presonal foul penalty assessed when Joe Kahlhammer's hard hit sent the receiver's helmet flying kept the drive alive, and Plarski scored from 2 yards out to make it 35-14.
Besides Davis' 78 rushing yards, Plarski finished with 49 and reserve running back Vincenzo Leone picked up 48 on seven fourth-quarter carries. Central finished with 208 total yards.
Starke scored from a yard out for East early in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
"We needed to play a good, tough opponent to see where we're at," Zvonar said. "I didn't know coming into tonight whether we were a pretender or a contender. Now I think we can contend."
"I don't want to take anything away from East," Dougherty said. "We didn't make the plays we needed to, and they were the better team.
"But our kids know that maybe we could play them again (in the playoffs)."
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