Kelley's the hero for Lincoln Park

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Christopher Kelley knew his team needed a lift and the 5-8, 195-pound junior came through.

He scooped up a fumbled punt and ran 48 yards to score, sparking Lincoln Park's 21-20 victory over Steinmetz in a duel of unbeaten Illini Red Bird rivals Friday at Hanson Stadium.

Lincoln Park (4-0, 1-0) trailed 20-8 when Kelley took charge on the last play of the third quarter. Later, after Kristian Palmer (6-of-11, 165 yards) threw a 30-yarder to Kelvin Blanchard on third-and-32, Kelley plunged two yards to score and Tyler Eliasen kicked the winning point with 3:04 left.

"It was the turning point of the game," Kelley said. "He fumbled the snap. I was coming from the outside to block the punt and they didn't block me. All that was running through my head was scoop and score. This was a big game for us because we had lost to them for the last three years."

Blanchard ran 25 yards to put Lincoln Park ahead but Steinmetz (3-1, 0-1) rallied as Randall Ely scored on a 78-yard kickoff return and Richard Dean and Samuel Valdovinos ran for touchdowns. Lincoln Park lost three fumbles and gained only four yards in the third quarter.