After a pair of close losses the past two years, Andrew had its game against Lincoln-Way West circled on the schedule.
The Thunderbolts came through as Jarvion Franklin ran for two touchdowns and the defense came up with numerous big stops as Andrew prevailed 17-0 in a SouthWest Suburban Red showdown Friday night in Tinley Park.
“This was a real hard practice week for us,” Franklin said. “The defense did what it had to do and the offense did what it wanted to do.”
On the first play of the second quarter, Franklin (20 carries, 132 yards) broke free on a fourth-and-1 play and ran 55 yards for a touchdown to set the tone.
“I’ve been trying to bust one all year,” Franklin said. “I just trusted my blocks, and Phil Sternes pancaked his guy to set me free.”
Franklin, a junior, scored again from a yard out and Mike Elhers added a 28-yard field goal to give Andrew (3-1, 2-0) a 17-0 halftime lead.
The Warriors (2-2, 1-1) were stopped a yard short on a fourth-and-2 play midway through the third quarter, then were turned back twice on fourth down from the 1 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. The T-bolts then ran out the final 11:13 of the game.
West quarterback Justin Keuch was 7-of-14 with an interception for 78 yards. Andrew quarterback Jacob Platt was 8-of-12 for 128 yards with two interceptions.
