Former Griffins Contribute in a Big Way at Saint Xavier

Five years ago, they helped Lincoln-Way East capture the Class 8A football championship following a perfect 14-0 season.

This season, they've set their sights on winning another title, this one at the NAIA level for Saint Xavier University.

Anthony Kropp, Pat Geary, Wade Novak, Tom Lynch and Colin Luczynski were all starters for the Griffins on coach Rob Zvonar's memorable 2005 team.

The five seniors are making their mark now in a major way for this year's Cougars, who capped an 11-0 regular season with a big win on Saturday.

Third-ranked SXU jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead and rolled to a 30-6 victory over NAIA seventh-ranked Saint Francis of Indiana at Bruce Deaton Field.

SXU wrapped up its second straight unbeaten regular season and repeated as Mid-States Football Association Mideast League champs with a 7-0 mark.

The win was the 100th career victory for 12-year coach Mike Feminis, who has only dropped 39 games, including just 14 in the last six years.

Kropp, the Cougars' quarterback, leads an explosive offense that has outscored opponents 557-174, including 397-73 in the first half.

On Saturday, he threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns to improve his NAIA-best marks to 3,322 passing yards and 45 scoring touchdowns.

His 45 touchdown passes in a season broke the school mark he set last year and he now has an SXU-best 8,123 passing yards for his career.

"This has been a great season for me individually, but if I didn't have the guys around me, the individual accomplishments would never be there," Kropp said. "I can't thank the 'O' line, receivers and running backs enough. They've been outstanding all year.

"Playing with all of those East guys just brings back the old memories, especially when Pat (Geary) makes a play like he did (interception in the end zone). Playing with those guys again and being able to share this with them is something special.

"This program has come a long way, and coach 'Fem' has done an absolutely great job. We're at the point now where we're a top-five team and that's where we want to be. We've got a couple of humps that we have to get over, but that's down the road."

Geary tied for team honors in total tackles (9), solo stops (6), tackles for loss (2) and passes broken up (2) in Saturday's game. The cornerback, who leads SXU in punt returns, also intercepted a pass in the end zone.

"We won this (Mideast League title) last year, too, but being seniors now, this makes it nice," Geary said. "We still have our mind on one goal and that's getting to Georgia and winning the national championship.

"Everyone on our team has a little character, so we all know when it's time to work and when it's time to have some fun and that shows on the field. And it's fun to keep the friendships going with the kids from my high school team while starting new friendships."

Novak is the other ex-Griffin who has been a four-year member of SXU's program. He is the Cougars' starter at the right guard position.

"It's always great to be undefeated going into the playoffs," he said. "We're a close group and we all work together and we're all friends. Some of us have been playing together for a long time. We all know what we're doing together on the field."

Lynch, who transferred to SXU a year ago, is the kicker and improved to 9-for-9 in field goals after making kicks of 27, 28 and 25 yards.

"I'm very excited about how we're doing," Lynch said. "We come together as a team in every game and just pull through as one unit. Our goal is to win the national championship, but we have to take it one step at a time.

"After going to Southern Illinois and Joliet Junior College, it's nice to come back and play with these guys from high school. It's like going back to the old times and being on a winning streak with them again. It's been a lot of fun."

And the other former Griffin senior is Luczynski, who transferred from Eastern Illinois this year. He had two tackles for loss on Saturday.

The Cougars next play on Saturday, Nov. 20, in the first round of the NAIA Championship series.