IHSA Team Preview: Lincoln-Way East Griffins

<em><b>Season overview: </b></em> <b>Lincoln-Way East is coming off of a state championship season that was followed by a dominant/undefeated spring season. This fall will seem to be business as usual, but with a lot of new faces. The entire 11 on defense will be new starters this fall. In years past, Lincoln-Way East has cycled through personnel on a year-by-year basis, and head coach Rob Zvonar and his staff have always found a way to maximize potential. On the offensive side of the ball, there’s a great mix of veterans and young talent. Energy is high for the Griffins, and a state championship is on their mind again.</b> &nbsp; <em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">2021 Spring Season</span> (6-0)</strong></em> <b>3/19 vs Bolingbrook HS (42-14)</b> <b>3/26 @ Homewood-Flossmoor HS (31-0)</b> <b>4/2 vs Lincoln-Way Central HS (41-0)</b> <b>4/9 @ Lockport HS (34-10)</b> <b>4/16 vs Sandburg HS (28-0)</b> <b>4/23 @ Lincoln-Way West HS (27-7)</b> <hr /> <em><strong>Game breakers: </strong></em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="20905" first="Alexander" last="Knaperek"] (OG- 2022- 6’2” 295 lb)</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Alex is one of my favorite linemen to watch on film and in person. He’s everything that you want in a lineman. He’s strong, tough, and mean on the field. He plays with great pad level, not afraid to take on contact in pass protection, and he’ll let players that he drives into the dirt know about it by constantly finishing them off until the play is blown dead. Keep an eye on Alex Knaperek this season, especially when he pulls. </span> &nbsp; <strong>Jon Guch (DB- 2022- 6’ 3” 175 lb)</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Jon is a long corner who got more and more playing time as the spring season moved along. He’s a confident player who you’re comfortable putting on the opposing team’s #1 receiver. Through fluid hip mobility and his freakish vertical jump, Jon is one of the best zone corners in the state. He’ll start popping up on people’s radar sooner rather than later. </span> &nbsp; <strong>Brennan Stolarek (QB- 2022- 6’1” 190lb)</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Brennan is a quarterback who will be taking his first snaps as a varsity starter this fall. He’s now in the driver’s seat to lead the potent and talented Griffins offense. This summer he has really taken the leadership role in leading and directing the offense. He throws a pretty and accurate ball between and outside the hashes. Fair to say we are looking forward to seeing Brennan’s potential. </span> &nbsp; <strong>Michael Cardilli (DE- 2022- 6’2” 215lb) </strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Michael played defensive end last year for the Griffins as a rotation player. He was behind a super talented senior line that I can tell he learned a lot from. This spring he was getting better and better as the season went along. He’s a technically sound defensive end that understands his assignment. He does a great job spilling pulling offensive lineman, playing his QB read, and pass-rushing when given his cue of high hat. He’s a grinder who won’t take any plays off! </span> &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="131425" first="Jack" last="Tremblay"] (WR- 2022- 6’0” 190lb)</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Jack has gotten buzz from PrepRedzone and all over the state of Illinois this summer. He’s a game-breaker type player that can take the lid off on any defense. He can beat any corner that he’s matched up against one on one within the state of Illinois. This fall, every time he touches the ball, he will be a threat to score. </span> <em><strong>Other players to watch:</strong></em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="165458" first="Trey" last="Johnson"]- WR/TE - 2022</strong> <strong>Kamal Mukarram- S - 2022</strong> <strong>Peter Olaleye - RB - 2023</strong> <strong>Bradley Abott- OT - 2023 </strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="131525" first="Jake" last="Scianna"]- MLB - 2023</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>James Kwiecinski - RB/WR - 2023</strong> </span> <hr /> <em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">2021 Fall Schedule</span></strong></em> <b>8/27 vs Crete-Monee HS </b> <b>9/3 @ Naperville Central HS </b> <b>9/10 vs Stagg HS </b> <b>9/17 @ Andrew HS </b> <b>9/24 @ Bolingbrook HS </b> <b>10/8 vs Homewood-Flossmoor HS </b> <b>10/15 @ Lockport HS </b> <b>10/22 vs Bradley-Bourbonnais HS </b> &nbsp; <em><strong>Games to Watch:</strong></em> <b>The games you want to attend for the Griffins this fall would be against Bolingbrook HS (9/24) and Lockport Township HS (10/15). These games are against two of the top teams in the conference in their own backyards. In the spring season, the Griffins won both games against these opponents. That being said, the first half of both games was close. That in combination with having home-field advantage will prove as a testament of these more senior heavy teams like Lockport Township against the young and talented players that are suiting up for the Griffins. These games will decide who wins the conference. </b> <hr /> <b><i>For more IHSA team previews, you can follow @prepredzone or prepredzoneIL! To have your team featured for a season preview, recruiting advice, or having players featured in future articles, please DM and follow @_D3BO</i></b>