The sun sets over Lane Stadium the Friday night of Sept. 5 as the Lane Tech football team runs onto the field of their first home game. The crowd is dressed in bright, Hawaiian-themed colors, and people squeeze together to fit on the crowded bleachers. Football season is back, and the student section is ready.
“I think my favorite part about being at football games is just the energy the crowd gives,” sophomore student Sofia Repta said. “Like, I feel like our school is really, really, really good with the team spirit and just, like, everybody being so hyped up and watching our team play.”
The Lane Tech Champions beat Thornton Fractional South in the home opener Friday night to continue their strong start to the season. The team won 35-0 in their second game and second blowout.
On their opening possession, Lane’s junior player Samuel Bodeau scored a running touchdown for a rare result on a first drive. Later in the first quarter, junior quarterback Robert Suteu completed a pass to Taylor Clay, also a junior, to make the score 14-0.
In the second quarter, senior Vernon Cole added another rushing touchdown. Cole scored four touchdowns in the team’s first game of the season against Shepard, according to MaxPreps.
In the third quarter, defensive player Paiden Buckner took advantage of a mistake and intercepted a pass from TF South. Buckner ran the ball 61 yards to score a touchdown. Buckner said making big plays like this feels great. “It just shows that all the work I put in over the summer paid off,” Buckner said.
Lane finished off the third quarter with a third running touchdown, scored by junior Ethan Pena, to make the score 35-0. No points were scored in the fourth quarter. Due to the massive point deficit, the referees decided to speed up the clock and bring on the end of the game quicker.
TF South, located in the suburb of Lansing, Illinois, won their first game of the season according to MaxPreps, but failed to create scoring opportunities or stop the Lane offense.
Lane also won their first game, against non-conference team Shepard, by a score of 37-19. With the strong start to the season, the team’s coaches and players are looking forward.
“Coming into the season, we wanted to qualify for state playoffs again, which is still very much possible and still one of my biggest hopes,” Coach Conley said. “Hopefully, we can win a game and advance in the state playoffs, because there’s been a long time since we did that.” The last time Lane won a state playoff game was during the 2004-2005 season, where they beat Elmhurst in the first round, according to the IHSA.
Buckner also claimed high hopes for the season, saying his goals are to “Go undefeated, win city, and make a run in the state playoffs.”
Conley said he sees some improvements in the team’s ability to work together. “I feel like it’s still some work to do, but we’re definitely off to a better start than we have been in the past,” Conley said. “I think the kids, they’re buying into the play for each other aspects, so it’s feeling more like a family than just individuals playing football.“
Lane Tech continued their season Friday the 12th with a highly anticipated conference game against the Lincoln Park Lions. They beat Lincoln Park 30-0 to remain undefeated. Lane’s next away game is at Johnson, Sept. 20. The next home game is homecoming, against Bulls College Prep, Oct. 3.
