09/23/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
LAWRENCEVILLE - It was a beautiful afternoon in Lawrence County on Saturday.

However the football game played between Casey-Westfield and Lawrenceville was anything but.

Despite all of the mistakes on the field by both teams, the Warriors had two things in their corner that allowed them to head home with their fifth consecutive victory.

Coach Jeff Fritchtnitch's defense shut down the Indians on Saturday and running back Conner Sullivan took care of all the scoring that they would need.

The Warriors 'brick wall' allowed only 39-yards of total offense and Sullivan, a 6-2, 215 senior, rushed 24-times for 124-yards and both of the touchdowns.

Casey-Westfield improved to 5-0 on the season, 3-0 in the Little Illini Conference standings with the road win.

The Indians fell to 4-1, 2-1 in the LIC.

The two teams combined for 24-penalties for 154-yards, 13 by the Warriors, but Coach Fritchtnitch and his crew were in no danger of losing this battle.

When the flags weren't falling, Casey-Westfield was in charge.

The Warriors have shut out four of their five victims, outscoring the opposition 184-6 and Saturday the defensive effort was there for four quarters.

“We have talked to our guys about defense. This is what is going to win you games down the stretch and we're in that stretch right now,” said Coach Fritchtnitch. “Our defense answered the call today. In the darkness of our offense adversity, our defense kept making it happen for us. Our special teams were good today, also. The defense and special teams were stellar today and I couldn't be more proud of them.”

After forcing a short Lawrenceville punt in the opening minutes, Sullivan capped a 13-play, 50-yard drive on the Warriors' first possession which took 7:27 off of the clock.

He muscled his way into the endzone on a fourth-and-four from the Lawrenceville five.

Senior Brian Wright nailed the extra point for a 7-0 lead that turned out to be the only score the visiting team would need.

Lawrenceville and head coach Cory Joergens came into the matchup averaging 41-points a game scoring but only had really one scoring opportunity.

The lone time that the Indians had the ball in C-W territory came in the second quarter after a Sullivan fumble gave the hosts the ball on the Warriors 39.

But the Tribe couldn't move the ball and a fourth down pass failed.

That was as close as Lawrenceville would get to scoring points as they never crossed the 50-yard line the rest of the contest.

“Like I told them (players) we ran into a buzz-saw today. Their defense was something spectacular having only given up six-points all season coming into today and it showed out today against our offense that had been rolling this season,” said Coach Joergens. “They seemed to have an answer to everything. I tried to open up the playbook to counter what they were doing but they have athletes all over the field, flying to the ball making big plays.”

Casey-Westfield sophomore quarterback Nolan Clement didn't have a great day throwing the ball as he connected on just 3-of-7 passes for 39-yards, with a long of 24-yards to senior wide out Grant Cochonour.

But offensively there was one other key stat that allowed the Warriors to be the only team scoring on Saturday.

In both of the scoring drives Casey-Westfield converted fourth down chances; twice in the first touchdown drive (including the TD) and once on the final TD march.

They finished 3-of-3 in that category with each being big time plays as the club heads into next week with a chance to clinch a playoff berth.

The Warriors would've likely scored more points but 13-penalties for 78-yards helped stop three of their potential scoring drives.

“We talk about containing our emotions (when things go wrong) and we tell them 'that play is over and gone so we have to get on to the next play',” said Coach Fritchtnitch. “We have to do what we have to do. We were giving them (Lawrenceville) more field position that what they earned with the penalties.”

The Lawrenceville stats weren't pretty but its defense kept them in the game until the fourth quarter.

Senior linebacker/wide receiver Bryant Jenkins was part of the two turnovers by Casey-Westfield.

Jenkins recovered the Warriors' second quarter fumble and then he out-fought Cochonour for the football for an interception of a Sullivan halfback option pass deep in Lawrenceville territory early in the fourth quarter.

Both times after the turnovers, however, the Indians failed to muster up any offense.

Sullivan clinched the game and finished the scoring with a 41-yard run down the right sidelines with 5:33 remaining in the game.

“When you're a 1A football team and you have a guy like Conner Sullivan who plays really good defense and really good offense and you have a line that can make really good holes for him against a really big line like Lawrenceville has, good things will happen,” said Coach Fritchtnitch. “He's a punisher on both sides of the ball.”

Running backs Luke Karras and Ryan Richards combined for another 29-yards on the ground for Casey-Westfield.

“It's hard to do that when you're a small school with limited numbers and be able to stay healthy,” said Coach Fritchtnitch about the winning streak. “We're 5-0 and we're ready to take the next step. We're going to celebrate this tonight and tomorrow and then on Monday we have to get back after it again.”

Lawrenceville quarterback Wyatt Halter was just 2-of-6 for nine-yards passing to go with 14-yards rushing on eight-attempts.

Jenkins caught both of the passes.

Senior running back Tanner Waller ended up with just 12-yards on seven-rushes.

Lawrenceville senior linebacker Kasen Ochs was a bright spot with 18 of the Indians' tackles in the contest, 12 solo and six assists.

Lawrenceville will hit the road next week to 1-4 Robinson while the Warriors will host 1-4 Marshall.

“We have to come back and get ready for Robinson. We have four more weeks to make some noise,” said Coach Joergens.