Four downs: News and notes from Week 5

Lincoln-Way East’s AJ Henning during a preseason practice. Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times.

AJ Henning debuts

Congratulations if you had Week 5 in the “When will AJ Henning play?” pool. Lincoln-Way East’s breakout star made his season debut in a 38-0 win against visiting Lincoln-Way Central on Friday.

Henning, the area’s biggest star, did not disappoint. He carried the ball five times for 77 yards and caught a 54-yard touchdown pass.

The junior had not played since the Class 8A state championship game in November. He had hip surgery during the offseason.

Get ready for a showdown

The Griffins are a perfect 5-0 and have been on top of the Super 25 all season. Some late heroics from Homewood-Flossmoor set up a major Week 6 showdown. The undefeated Vikings will face Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort.

H-F defensive back Wynston Russell scored his first career touchdown to put the Vikings ahead of Lincoln-Way West on Friday. He picked up a fumble and returned it 50 yards for a score. H-F beat the Warriors 28-14.

The Vikings’ defense created two more turnovers after that to seal the win.

H-F running back Leon Tanna continues to terrorize opponents. He had 26 carries for 161 yards.

Catholic Blue Broncos

Montini beat visiting St. Rita 29-13 on Friday to earn its first ever win in the Catholic League Blue.

“53 years of the football program and we were the first team to play in the Blue,” Broncos coach Mike Bukovsky told the Daily Herald.

Montini scored on the first play from scrimmage. Deontay Ball ran for an 80-yard touchdown.

Illinois recruit Nick Fedanzo had 25 carries for 153 yards. Montini is 5-0 and will play at Loyola (3-2) on Saturday afternoon.

North Side history lesson

Lincoln Park beat Lane 31-7 yesterday. That’s something that doesn’t happen very often. Lane fan Walter Brzeski monitors this stuff.

According to Brzeski’s research, Lincoln Park last beat Lane in 1926. The school wasn’t even called Lincoln Park back then, it was known as Waller until 1979.

Lane is 22-2 all-time against Lincoln Park/Waller.

That wasn’t the only interesting historical nugget from the game. Lane is now 1-4. The Indians beat Rauner in Week 1 and have now lost four consecutive games. Brzeski says it is the first time Lane has lost four straight since 1908 when it finished 1-7.

Lane vs. Lincoln Park/Waller

2018: Lincoln Park 31, Lane 7

2008: Lane 28, Lincoln Park 6

2007: Lane 37, Lincoln Park 0

2006: Lane 49, Lincoln Park 0

1988: Lane 51, Lincoln Park 0

1982: Lane 42, Lincoln Park 12

1951: Lane 42, Waller 6

1950: Lane 41, Waller 0

1948: Lane 32, Waller 12

1947: Lane 50, Waller 0

1946: Lane 49, Waller 0