Tinley Park Football Hits Detour in Lemont

Despite the fact that averaged 49 points per game over the first month of the season, head coach Nick Johnston knew points would be at a premium against a stingy Lemont defense on Friday night.

Lemont (5-0 overall, 2-0 South Suburban Blue) came into the game having allowed a mere six points on the season.  

“The Lemont defense is stout. But scoring 20 to 28 points against them should be enough if our defense plays well,” Johnston remarked after   

After two early three-and-outs, the Titans (4-1, 1-1) had some success moving the ball against one of the area’s top defenses behind quarterback Kyle Sheridan.   

It just wasn’t enough to match the bruising play of the Lemont ground game, which controlled the clock and the chains.

Mike Anzalone, Lemont’s leading rusher, repeatedly ran tough off the tackle to the tune of 75 yards and a score before going down early in the third quarter. Anzalone never returned, but he didn’t have to.   

Lemont junior running back Christos Giatras made a seamless transition to feature back and helped the Indians continued to move the ball. Giatras ran for 163 yards and two touchdowns, and he added another 72 receiving yards.

After a Lemont score put the Indians up 35-20 in the third quarter, Sheridan and the Titans offense threatened to make it a game, driving down to the Lemont 11-yard line.

But their hopes of another fourth-quarter comeback (Tinley has two on the season) came crashing down with a fumble in the red zone.

“That was really tough,” Sheridan said about the missed opportunity. “Anytime you put it down in the red zone, it’s a big setback. Their defense was big and tough, and they got into their gaps. We just didn’t execute the way we wanted to today.”

After the change of possession, Lemont poured salt on the wound. The Indians’ offense marched 90 yards to put the game out of reach with a three-score lead.  

Knowing the big-play capability of the Titans offense, Lemont head coach Eric Michaelsen felt uneasy until the final whistle.   

“That’s a well-coached and very talented team over there.  I never felt comfortable until the end,” he said.

The Titans will look to right the ship next week against district rival Hillcrest.