Thornton, Andrew to battle for league title

Updated: October 18, 2011 8:28PM

The first goal of most teams is to win a conference championship.

Heading into the final week of the football season, Thornton and Andrew find themselves in position to accomplish that feat.

Only one, however, will do so.

Thornton (5-1 in conference) travels to Andrew (5-1) on Friday night with a piece of the SouthWest Suburban Red at stake. Lincoln-Way West, also 5-1, needs to defeat Bradley to take part in the championship.

Thornton will have to be road warriors if the Wildcats are going to claim back-to-back Red honors.

Hitting the road is not what concerns Thornton coach Bill Mosel. It’s containing Thunderbolts quarterback Tyler Hook and running back Jarvis Franklin.

Hook is coming off a performance in which he completed 19-of-23 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns against Lincoln-Way North.

“He’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve seen this year,” Mosel said. “The running back is very talented and he’s playing linebacker, too. The key for us is to not being able to allow them to control both sides of the line.”

Andrew hasn’t played a team with as much speed as Thornton.

Sophomore quarterback Jowahn Brown has passed for 933 yards in just four games. Running back Jamal Towns has topped 1,000 yards on the ground.

Defensively, linebackers Jaumarl Clark, Dominick Bryant, Mike Morris and Willard Cotton have wreaked havoc most of the season.

Malcolm Majors anchors a defensive line that will attempt to pressure Hook. The Thunderbolts might want to stay away from cornerback Jason Towns, a playmaker who also lines up at wide receiver.

“I’m pleased with how we’re playing,” Mosel said. “We kind of hoped to be at this point, playing for the conference championship.”

Senffner coming to Shepard

Former Providence coach Matt Senffner will perform the pregame coin toss Friday when Shepard hosts Oak Lawn.

Shepard coach Dominic Passolano and Oak Lawn coach Sean Lucas both played for Senffner at Providence.

Did you know ...

With Friday’s 17-7 victory, St. Rita has defeated Mount Carmel five of last six times the two Catholic League Blue powers have met.

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