The margin of defeat Lincoln-Way Central inflicted on Reavis in New Lenox on Friday night was large: 42 points, complete with a second-half running clock.
The yardage difference at the half was as monumental: The Knights gained 285 more yards in the first half.
But despite the 49-7 loss and 323-38 yardage deficit at the intermission, Rams coach Tim Zasada was sanguine about the outcome of the Class 7A playoff opener as his team boarded the busses to return to Burbank.
“They’re a 7A powerhouse that went to the Final Four (in 2024),” Zasada said. “We’ve got six two-way players and start four sophomores. We’ve got four guys who played middle-school football and they’ve got a hundred. It catches up to us.”
“We’re proud of our group. We came out and didn’t back down.”
Zasada knew his 37-man team was up against when the draw come out. With superior numbers, Knights coach Dave Woodburn has rebuilt a formidable program of the past into a new threat.
It was still a solid season for the Rams, who made the playoffs for the first time since 2022. They finished 6-4 and five of those victories were shutouts, including a 42-0 romp over Oak Lawn. Even coming within seven points of Richards while holding the Bulldogs to 22 points is a feat.
“We had the best point differential in our conference,” Zasada said. “In our conference, where everyone pretty much has the same experience, we did a phenomenal job.”
But Friday was something else again. The Rams didn’t score until 2:40 remained in a running-clock second half, when Dardan Nreci found Nikko Roberts for a 39-yard touchdown to avoid the shutout against the Knights’ second-string defense.
Until then, the Knights (9-1) ran the show. Reavis had no answer for Lucas Andresen’s rushing — three touchdowns from 35, 13 and 19 yards out in the first 18 minutes. Nreci was intercepted twice — once for a pick-six — by 5-foot-9 outside linebacker Jalen Byrd twice. Byrd and his teammates had already suffocated the rushing game. It gained just 25 yards on 14 carries in the first half.
The experience differential Zasada spoke of showed in Andresen’s three receptions of Drew Woodburn passes. They’ve been playing together since second grade.
The Knights travel to St. Rita in the second round.