Lincoln-Way West’s Jacob Howard Stars in Playoff Victory

Lincoln-Way West’s Jacob Howard demonstrates both passing and running skills. The senior quarterback again showcased his abilities in a recent game by scoring a rushing touchdown and passing for another. A new aspect of his game emerged when he moved to wide receiver, catching an 8-yard TD from sophomore backup Davey Koszulinski.

“We’ve planned for this play for a couple of weeks,” Howard stated. “We saved it for this moment.” This play resulted in the team’s first score of the day. Howard secured the winning touchdown with an untouched 10-yard run up the middle during overtime, leading to a 21-14 victory over St. Laurence in Burbank’s Class 7A second-round playoff.

Howard also completed a 9-yard TD pass to Braydon McNulty in the fourth quarter, highlighting a touchdown trifecta for Lincoln-Way West, finishing with an 8-4 record. His receiving touchdown was particularly noteworthy.

“Have you seen us run that play in 15 years?” asked Warriors coach Luke Lokanc. “We usually avoid trick plays, but this situation called for it.”

Senior defensive lineman Austin Evans played a significant role with an overtime sack and a fourth-down stop in the third quarter. Kevin Thatcher ended the game with an interception in the end zone. Sophomore punter Coldyn Holba’s three precise punts kept St. Laurence’s offense backed up at their own 5, 12, and 5-yard lines.

“I aimed my punts left, hoping they would go out of bounds,” Holba explained.

St. Laurence’s junior quarterback Noah Taylor threw for 186 yards and ran in a TD, while David Campbell added a 3-yard TD in the first quarter. Howard, despite a broken wrist in the season opener causing him to miss two games, has led his team to a strong playoff presence.

Lincoln-Way West’s win advances them to face undefeated Hersey (11-0) in the quarterfinals. Reflecting on previous performances, Howard acknowledged the impact of the Week 4 loss to Lockport.

“My performance then wasn’t great, but playoffs are what counts,” Howard expressed. Coach Lokanc praised Howard’s resilience and leadership.

“He competes fiercely, inspiring teammates with his passion,” Lokanc noted.

Howard’s future includes aspirations for a college baseball career, drawing interest from NCAA Division II schools and junior colleges. However, he remains focused on continuing his high school football journey for now.

Howard credited the defense for its solid performance. “Our defense contained them inside their own 20. That was a huge asset,” Howard remarked. “Our sophomore punter delivered in this intense game.”

Recognizing his father, Josh, as a mentor, Howard said, “Dad taught me everything about quarterbacking. Every backyard lesson mattered.”

Reporter Jeff Vorva contributed to this article for the Daily Southtown.