Knights take it to rival North

For Nolan Gonciarczyk, it was a play two years in the waiting.

The senior receiver for Lincoln-Way North had missed the last two seasons – the Phoenix' first two as a school – because of broken collarbones sustained during preseason practice each year.

This year, Gonciarczyk is healthy, and quarterback Jack Irace took advantage on North's second snap of the game against cross-district foe Lincoln-Way Central. Irace hit Gonciarczyk with a 12-yard pass, and, after eluding a defender, he turned it into a 62-yard touchdown.

The Knights rallied to tie the game on a 15-yard drive, but in a sense, the tone for the game was set. North would take what it wanted, when it wanted, in the way it wanted to take it. The Phoenix went on to score a 31-13 victory in the season opener in New Lenox.

For Gonciarczyk, who caught a 12-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter, just playing was a thrill. And to play so effectively?

"It feels great," Gonciarczyk said. "I'm in a dream right now. It was really tough sitting on the sidelines. I'm glad I stayed (on the team)."

He knew from late in the week of practice that the pass was coming.

"I was nervous," he said, laughing.

"We said we were going long the first drive," Irace said. "He (offensive coordinator Ed Lefevour) told me to go long, and he came up with it."

Irace, at 5-foot-7 Flutiesque in size, didn't have a bad night himself, four touchdown passes among his seven completions on 14 attempts for 156 yards.

"Jack is a little guy, but he's big between the ears," North coach George Czart said.

The Phoenix built a 31-7 lead before reserves largely took the field. Lincoln-Way North piled up 354 yards, 198 on the ground.

"Our key was our no-huddle offense," Gonciarczyk said. "It helps a lot."

Central running back Justin Baumhardt, one of the two returning starters from last season, ran for 97 yards on 30 carries. Quarterback Tyler Hutin threw for one touchdown and ran for another.

The score was a downer for the Knights in their first game under the direction of Brett Hefner, but there were aspects of the game he liked.

"For the amount of inexperience we put on the field, I feel pretty good about what we did," Hefner said. "The first half, they made a couple plays and we didn't."

"I was very impressed with them," Hefner said of the Phoenix. "They were real good. They will do some damage."

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