L-W East Wins 2017 State Football Title With Victory Over Loyola

DEKALB, IL — Scoring was at a premium Saturday as Frankfort's Lincoln-Way East High School was able to outlast Wilmette's Loyola Academy to win the Class 8A state football championship. The Griffins defeated the Ramblers, 23-14, as both schools' stiffling defenses made putting points on the board a struggle until the final minutes of the title game at Northern Illinois University's Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

After Dominic Dzioban's field goal put L-W East up 16-14 with 5:11 left in the fourth quarter, Max Cesario intercepted Quinn Boyle on Loyola's following possession. Sophomore A.J. Henning sealed the Griffins's victory with a 42-yard touchdown run on the next play.

A parade and championship celebration will be held Sunday, Nov. 26, starting and ending at L-W East. Staging for the parade will be at 10:30 a.m., and it will begin at 11 a.m. A brief trophy presentation will be held in the high school's gym immediately following the parade. Go to L-W East's website for details about the parade route and more information.

The game Saturday was L-W East's third appearance in the state final in the school's 16-year history. The Griffins's only other state championship came in 2005. Among Illinois high school football programs, it has the distinction of being the only school in the state to make the playoffs in each year of its existence.

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The Griffins's victory was highlighted by two impressive on-field performances. The standout player was Henning, who rushed for 154 yards and scored two touchdowns, including reaching the end zone on a 63-yard run in the third quarter.

But the gutty play of quarterback Brendan Morrissey also stood out. The senior had hurt his leg during L-W East's semifinal win against Maine South and had not practiced leading up to the title game. Despite obviously playing hurt, Morrissey completed key passes in the second and third quarters, and coach Rob Zvonar praised the quarterback for his hard-nosed approach Saturday.

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"Brendan was a warrior," Zvonar said in a postgame interview.

The Griffins scored first Saturday when Morrissey completed a 25-yard touchdown strike to Mason Keenan midway through the second quarter. Both teams then held each other scoreless for the rest of the first half, with the Ramblers missing an attempted field just before halftime.

Loyola, however, was able to tie the game at the start of the third quarter on a five-play, 36-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown pass from Boyle to Rory Boos. L-W East captured the lead again late in the third quarter. But when the Griffins botched the ensuing extra point, the Ramblers were able to go ahead 14-13 on their next touchdown.

Top-ranked L-W East ended the 2017 season undefeated with a 14-0 record. No. 3 Loyola Academy was 12-2 for the year.

WATCH: Lincoln-Way East High School players and fans celebrate the Griffins's 2017 state football championship.

Images via Lincoln-Way East High School and Loyola Academy