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Connor Laird, Oswego capitalize on stellar 'D' to run past Plainfield Central

Laird runs for three touchdowns, Cole Pradel throws two TDs in 42-3 win

“Our defense put us in great position to score,” Oswego senior running back Connor Laird said. “I didn’t have to run many yards to get three touchdowns. Thanks to the defense and the offensive line for setting up for me because I just had to finish what they started.” Plainfield Central actually forced Oswego to turn the ball over on downs on its game-opening possession, but the Wildcats gave the ball right back, fumbling it into the hands of Oswego senior Kiamirrion Howze. Seizing this new opportunity, Oswego junior quarterback Cole Pradel connected on a 28-yard touchdown pass to senior Joey Niesman. (Sean King)

By CHRIS WALKER

“Our defense put us in great position to score,” Oswego senior running back Connor Laird said. “I didn’t have to run many yards to get three touchdowns. Thanks to the defense and the offensive line for setting up for me because I just had to finish what they started.” Plainfield Central actually forced Oswego to turn the ball over on downs on its game-opening possession, but the Wildcats gave the ball right back, fumbling it into the hands of Oswego senior Kiamirrion Howze. Seizing this new opportunity, Oswego junior quarterback Cole Pradel connected on a 28-yard touchdown pass to senior Joey Niesman. (Sean King)

“It kind of just felt natural,” Niesman said “I felt like it was going to come, like it was meant to be.” Niesman hurt his ankle pretty badly in practice on Tuesday. And while he acknowledged that it’s still bothering him, it wasn’t going to keep from playing in the home opener. “I knew I could get through it,” he said. “So I lined up and (a Plainfield Central player) was on me pretty close, but I knew I had him beat the second he was on me. He couldn’t guard me. As soon as I got past him I saw Cole rolling out and it was a perfect ball right above the defender.” (Sean King)

The Wildcats turned the ball over again on their next possession and Panthers turned it into a 14-0 lead on sophomore Jacob Sergen’s 12-yard run midway through the first quarter. Oswego later turned another Plainfield Central turnover into a touchdown, capitalizing on all three, turning them in 21 unanswered points. “We can’t turn the ball over like we did,” Plainfield Central coach Jon Pereiro said. “That really hurts. There’s no way an offense or defense can be successful with those kinds of turnovers. We put the ball on the ground like that and that puts them right in the red zone and makes it easy.” (Sean King)

Oswego needed to cover just 234 yards to find the end zone six times, an average of just 39 yards per scoring drive. “(Oswego) coach (Brian) Cooney really harps on us to try to be the most disciplined team we can and to not make mental mistakes,” Laird said. “We just focused on doing what needed to do and their mistakes killed them.” Laird finished with 76 yards on 9 carries with touchdown runs of seven, 12 and 18 yards. (Sean King)

Pradel completed 10-of-13 passes for 159 yards, and two touchdowns, which included a 38-yard catch-and-run pass to senior Jack Lemke with 1:03 left before halftime to get the mercy clock turned on for the second half. Juniors Jacob Garlick and Joey Lumino had interceptions while Anthony Cikauskas was a beast defensively for Oswego with three sacks. (Sean King)

“I’m always working on my skills and I just did what I could against the other offensive player,” Cikauskas said. “We watched their films and studied exactly what they’re going to do so we pretty much knew what the plays were and we took care of it.” The Wildcats will look to regroup when they host Oswego East next Friday while the Panthers head to Joliet West. “Our kids stood tall and battled,” Pereiro said. “They didn’t quit. They played hard until the very end and did a good job and just need to improve. We’ll keep on playing and we’ll be throwing everything we can at Oswego East next week.” (Sean King)

Oswego fans cheer on their team during a football game against Plainfield Central in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego takes the field during the season opener against Plainfield Central in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Fans in the Oswego student section cheer on their school against Plainfield Central in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Jacob Garlick (35) recovers a fumble by Plainfield Central during the first quarter of their season opener in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s David Wilson (10) runs after the catch against Plainfield Central's Dillon Koty (7) in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Jack Lemke (3) runs after the catch against Plainfield Central's in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Jacob Garlick (35) reacts after recovering a fumble against Plainfield Central in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Jack Lemke (3) runs after the catch against Plainfield Central's in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Jacob Sergen (26) carries the ball for a touchdown against Plainfield Central in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Jack Lemke (3) runs after the catch against Plainfield Central in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Jacob Sergen (26) carries the ball for a touchdown against Plainfield Central in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego fans cheer on their team against Plainfield Central in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Joseph Niesman (2) catches a touchdown pass against Plainfield Central in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Plainfield Central's James Buck (5) throws a pass against Oswego in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Cole Pradel (15) throws a touchdown pass against Plainfield Central in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Plainfield Central's Brandon Shoemaker (1) carries the ball against Oswego in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Matthew Cook (7) pursues Plainfield Central's Nathan Sommerfeld (10) on a return play in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Plainfield Central's Brandon Shoemaker (1) carries the ball against Oswego in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)

Oswego’s Jack Lemke (3) runs after the catch against Plainfield Central's in Oswego Aug. 30. (Sean King)