Lincoln-Way West senior Lavonte Blackful ignited the Warriors’ 42-0 rout of visiting Thornwood on Friday night with an electrifying 55-yard punt return for a first-quarter touchdown in the SouthWest Suburban Red game.
The return made it 7-0 with 8:29 to play in the first quarter. The Warriors (5-3, 4-2) added three more scores in the period. Running back Javier Montalvo scored on touchdown runs of 4, 2 and 6 yards to make it 28-0.
Montalvo added a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter to make it 35-0.
Blackful, who ran the Wildcat offense for the Warriors, scored on a 3-yard-run in the second quarter for the final margin.
“I felt like we needed a spark early,” Blackful said. “I made it to the house that time. I was just trying to give the team an early boost.”
The Warriors’ defense forced two fumbles and intercepted two passes. Thornwood (2-6, 1-5) did not cross midfield until its last possession of the first half.
“The defense played great,” West coach Dave Ernst said.
