For the First Time, All Four Lemont Hornets Teams Compete for Super Bowl Titles

The Lemont Hornets Youth Football League will wrap up a record-breaking season Sunday as all four teams play for River Valley Youth Football League Super Bowl titles.

Heading into the playoffs, the four teams (Superlightweight, Lightweight, Junior Varsity and Varsity) went a combined 31-1--one of the program's best records in its 40-year history. Each team finished first in the River Valley Intra-League standings.

Super Bowl play will kick-off at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday at Lincoln-Way East High School, 201 Colorado Ave., in Frankfort.

"It's unbelievable," said Cory Steck, president of the Lemont Hornets organization. "This is a record-breaking year for us, so it's incredibly rewarding to be competing for the championship across all four levels."

Steck attributed the teams' success to the dedication of the coaching staff--Keith Polk (Superlightweight), Shawn McPartland (Lightweight), Sean O'Brien (JV) and Tom Zwick (Varsity).

"They're all volunteers, and they give 100 percent," Steck said. "Aside from being extremely knowledgeable about football, they all work really hard to inspire and teach the kids."

Sean O'Brien said he was "tremendously proud" of his Junior Varsity team, which is 10-0 heading into their Super Bowl game against the Orland Hills Wolves (4-6).

"It's a special group of kids," he said. "I think they feel good going into Sunday, and they know that whatever happens they're still champions."

Varsity coach Tom Zwick said he has been more impressed this season with the lessons the kids are taking off the field.

"This puts them in a position to understand the values of football, and how they are really bigger than any one game," he said. "Teamwork and work ethic are things that they'll use throughout their lives."

Teamwork, Zwick said, has been outstanding across all four levels.

"One of the best things I've seen is that whether or not it's a starter or someone who plays more sparingly, they're all dedicated to each other and making each other better," he said.

Zwick is in his 18th year as a coach and played for the organization when he was a kid. He learned at a young age how important the Hornets teams are for families in Lemont, he said.

"He really instilled in me how valuable it could be for the community, and how many lessons you can carry away from the experience," he said.

Steck, whose wife Lisa runs the Hornets Cheerleading program, said the program has become particularly valuable as a feeder program for Lemont High School. The school's varsity football is undefeated this season heading into the second round of 6A playoffs Saturday against Geneva. Many of the team's players are former Hornets standouts, Steck said.

"That's what the Hornets are all about," he said. "We prepare kids to be successful at the high school level and beyond."

Opponent

Game Time

Hornets SuperLightweight

Bourbonnais Bears

12:30 p.m.

Hornets Lightweight

Frankfort Falcons Blue

2:30 p.m.

Hornets Junior Varsity

Orland Hills Wolves

4:30 p.m.

Hornets Varsity

Morris Warriors

6:30 p.m