Oct. 17--A conference championship is an annual expectation in Lemont.
The Indians earned their seventh South Suburban Blue crown in the past eight seasons by blasting rival Oak Forest 35-0 on Friday in Lemont.
The Indians (7-1, 5-0) started fast, made three key defensive stands, and all but sealed the victory by scoring on their first possession of the third quarter.
Lemont's fifth straight win since a Week 3 loss to Richards handed Oak Forest (7-1, 4-1) its first setback of the season.
"It's a huge rivalry, they're always a very good team," said Lemont's Jeremy Fejedelem, who ran for a touchdown and caught another. "I think we had the best game of our season. We're just getting better week by week."
Lemont took a 21-0 halftime lead on Fejedelem's 19-yard reverse 3 minutes into the game and two touchdown passes by Spencer Nagel -- a 32-yarder to Steven Fleming and a 20-yarder to Fejedelem.
Lemont's defense, led by John Dykstra and Austin Schaffert, kept the Bengals at bay on drives that ended at the Indians' 4, 21 and 25.
Oak Forest had scored 35 or more points in six of their seven previous games, going over 40 five times.
"I truly cannot say enough about our defense," Lemont coach Bret Kooi said. "Our kids play fast, fly to the football."
Lemont added a 5-yard TD run by Jake Kirkman early in the third quarter and an 18-yard scoring run by Matt Dunne in the fourth.
Bob Hurst is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: Jeremy Fejedelem, Lemont, 19-yard TD run, 20-yard TD reception.
Key performers: Lemont -- Spencer Nagel, 10-for-15 passing, 156 yards, 2 TDs; Steven Fleming, 5 receptions, 74 yards, TD. Oak Forest -- Nick Czeszewski, INT.
