Lincoln-Way East shuts out Warren to win Class 8A Illinois high school football championship

Dominic “The Dominator” Dzioban kicked the Griffins into the lead, and AJ Henning sealed the win.

Lincoln-Way East’s AJ Henning (3) turns the corner and heads for the end zone.

DEKALB—Not every track star is a football sensation. It’s best to let Lincoln-Way East’s AJ Henning describe what makes him special.

“Some people are different in the way they see the field,” Henning said. “Some people are more elusive than others. When I get space on the outside I just go into my drive phase of the 100-meter dash. When I’m in the open field it is just like running a track race for me.”

Saturday’s track race busted open a defensive battle in the final minute of the third quarter. Henning, a Michigan recruit, broke loose down the right sideline for the game’s only touchdown, a 56-yard run that sealed Lincoln-Way East’s 12-0 win against Warren in the Class 8A state championship game at Huskie Stadium.

Henning had 29 carries for 125 yards and the touchdown.

“We were getting little chunks of yards all night,” Henning said. “Me and [Jamal Johnson] were just pounding away at them. It was just a matter of time until we hit that big play. When I hit the sideline, it was history from there.”

Warren’s defense received the most attention heading into the game. The Blue Devils had only allowed 40 points all season and never more than seven.

But it was Lincoln-Way East’s defense that dominated the title game. Warren didn’t pick up a first down until late in the third quarter and only managed three. The Blue Devils finished with 36 total yards.

“You don’t see a high school defense like Warren’s very often,” Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar said. “Maybe the best I’ve ever seen. Our guys wanted to prove maybe they were up there in the conversation too.”

Twelve points is the lowest total for Lincoln-Way East since a 28-3 loss to Homewood-Flossmoor in 2015.

The Griffins (14-0) took the lead thanks to two field goals in the second quarter.

It wasn’t a surprise that Lincoln-Way East kicker Dominic Dzioban, nicknamed “The Dominator.” played a major role. With the defenses so strong both coaches expected field position and Dzioban’s leg to have an impact.

It couldn’t have been much more dramatic. The wind was whipping through the stadium, accompanied by a misty rain. Dzioban missed a 52-yard attempt in the second quarter. He made a 46-yard field goal later in the quarter to give the Griffins a 3-0 lead and then lined up to attempt a 45-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

Dzioban was hit hard by Warren’s defense after the kick. It was good, but Dzioban remained crumpled on the turf. Both teams headed to the locker room and Dzioban eventually followed on a cart. He gave a thumbs up to the Lincoln-Way East crowd as he was driven away and the large group roared.

Warren’s defensive front isn’t giving much ground. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s AJ Henning (3) picks up yardage up the middle against Warren. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s Dominic Dzioban (9) kicks a second field goal. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Warren’s Luther Thompson carries the ball against Lincoln-Way East. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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