IHSA 6A Playoffs: Lemont Crushes Hubbard, Advances to Semifinals

pitched a team-record sixth shutout tonight in their dominating 29-0 win over Hubbard in the IHSA Class 6A quarterfinal. 

It was arguably the Indians' (12-0) best performance on defense all season as they held the Greyhounds (9-3) to -23 yards of total offense with only one play of 10 yards or more for the whole game and only two completed passes on 10 attempts for seven yards by quarterback Quincy Skanes. 

“The defense did a great job for us tonight,” Lemont head coach Eric Michaelsen said. “They (Hubbard) had a lot of playmakers on their offense and our guys did a great job holding them down.”

The Indians set the tone early, holding Hubbard to a short possession. The Greyhounds compounded the problem with a horrible snap on a punt attempt that went over the punter’s head and into the end zone, leading to a safety. 

After a clutch fake punt play by Lemont QB Damon Aleman, the Indians marched down the field and scored on a one-yard TD run by Mike Anzalone on fourth and goal. Anzalone had 31 carries for 128 yards for the game. 

“He (Anzalone) is a tough kid, no doubt it,” Michaelsen said. 

The Greyhounds’ best chance came in the second quarter after the Indians turned the ball over on downs in Hubbard territory, thanks to a holding penalty and a sack on Aleman. However, on the first play of the drive, running back Anthony Johnson fumbled the ball and defensive back Jake Lemming recovered, setting up a short field goal to put the Indians up 12-0. 

For much of the first half, Lemont's run offense struggled to back through the Hubbard defensive line. Aleman compensated with several rollout passes to his receivers, including a nine-yard TD to Tyler Jay to put the Indians up 19-0 at the half. 

The Indians added a 33-yard field goal late in the third quarter and a three-yard QB sneak by Aleman early in the fourth to finish off the Greyhounds. Hubbard, between their poor special teams play and losing receiver Quinton Skanes to injury, was never really in the game from the second quarter on. 

The Indians move on to play Peoria Richwoods in the semifinals in Peoria, who won in dramatic fashion (20-19) against Danville on Saturday. According to Michaelsen, this will be the first time these two teams have ever faced one another. 

“We’re not sure what to expect,” he said. “We know they’re a really good program and they play a tough schedule, but we try not to look too far ahead.” 

Senior defensive lineman Arnas Laurinaitis is still excited. 

“We just want to keep winning and keep going out there," he said. "I remember when I was a freshman and the team made it to state and that’s what I wanted to do.” 

The Indians are one step from their first trip to the finals since 2008. Time and date for their match against Richwoods have yet to be determined.