AJ Henning dazzles as Lincoln-Way East holds off Notre Dame

Both defenses lived up to their billing. Lincoln-Way East had a major edge in special teams play, but there was really just one difference between the Griffins and Notre Dame on Saturday in Frankfort: AJ Henning.

The senior is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Henning had three touchdowns in Lincoln-Way East’s 23-13 win against the Dons in the second round of the Class 8A state playoffs on Saturday.

Henning’s first score was on a two-yard run after Notre Dame muffed a punt. His second was classic AJ Henning. The Michigan recruit caught a short pass from Kyle Quinn and then busted through the Dons’ defense for a 29-yard touchdown. The third score was on a 14-yard pass from Quinn with just seconds left in the first half.

“I always say it is just not fair,” Griffins senior Sean McLaughlin said. “That kid is one of a kind. There is nothing better than seeing No. 3 run down the sidelines. We know that even when he doesn’t have those crazy stat lines he is going to do something to help us win.”

Henning had eight catches for 101 yards and six carries for 19 yards.

Things changed in the second half.

“As well as we played in the first half was as poorly as we did in the second,” Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar said. “I don’t ever just put that on us. Give credit to the toughness of their group that could have folded at halftime. They came back out and competed.”

Notre Dame (8-3) outscored the Griffins 13-0 in the second half. Julian Schurr scored on a one-yard run and Anthony Sayles connected with Nick Giamarusti on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:12 left in the game.

“There was a lack of intensity, a lack of intelligence,” Zvonar said. “We just got whipped. Maybe it is a blessing to guard against complacency. I don’t know how you can get complacent in the second round of the 8A playoffs.”

Lincoln-Way East’s Matt Kordas (7) blocks a punt that resulted in a safety as the Griffins play Notre Dame | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s Adrian Wilson sacks Notre Dame’s quarterback Anthony Sayles | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s A.J. Henning scores one of his touchdowns against Notre Dame. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s A.J. Henning shakes off a would-be tackler and scores another of his first-half touchdowns against Notre Dame. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s Kyle Quinn (2) tracks a receiver from the pocket as the Griffins attempt a pass against Notre Dame. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s Larry Burks (21) lowers his shoulder into Notre Dame’s Nick Giamarusti (3). | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s Jamal Johnson (1) carries the ball for some tough yards against Notre Dame. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s Matt Kordas (7) intercepts a Notre Dame pass. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s Sean McLaughlin (80) rushes Notre Dame’s quarterback. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s Jaron Hacha sacks Notre Dame quarterback Anthony Sayles. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s A.J. Henning celebrates after one of his three touchdowns by pumping his fist. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s Alec Ogarek (64) lifts A.J. Henning (3) after Henning score one of his three touchdowns against Notre Dame. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s A.J. Henning (3) cuts as Connor Kubik (31) blocks for him as the Griffins play Notre Dame. | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Lincoln-Way East’s A.J. Henning (3) starts to accelerate as he cuts behind the block of Connor Kubik (31) on Notre Dame’s Jordan Geroulis (8). | Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

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Sayles was 14-for-30 passing for 192 yards with one interception. The Dons were never able to get anything going on the ground, even in the second half. They had just 34 rushing yards.

“We pride ourselves on that,” McLauglin, a defensive end, said. “We want to be the team that makes them throw the ball. There is nothing better than stopping the rush and making them throw the ball. We know once they are one dimensional we have it in the bag.”

Lincoln-Way East (11-0) will face the winner of Neuqua Valley vs. Homewood-Flossmoor in the quarterfinals next weekend.