Lincoln Way East finished the 2023 season with a 13-1 overall record. The Griffins lost in the Illinois 8A State Championship game to Loyola Academy 26-15. Loyola Academy has been the one hurdle the Griffins haven’t been able to overcome in the last few years. They lost to Loyola Academy in the 2022 state finals 13-3 and were knocked out by them in the 2021 playoffs 3-0.
Even though they fell short of their goal the last two seasons, the Griffins are still a force to be reckoned with in Illinois and the Midwest. Since 2017, Lincoln Way East has had an impressive 81-6 overall record and two 8A State Championships (2017, 2019).
Since 2001, head coach Rob Zvonar has built the Lincoln Way East football program into one of the Midwest’s most respected and successful teams. He has 232 career wins here and three state titles. That is 10.8 wins per year over a span of 23 seasons. The consistency of greatness is remarkable and Hall of Fame worthy.
Offense
The offense averaged 34.6 points per game last season and will be without Josh Janowski (Iowa), Kyan Berry Johnson (Wisconsin), and Braden Tischer (DePauw). Tischer passed for 2,235 yards and threw 22 touchdowns. Janowski was the leader on the offensive line at center. Kyan was one of their top receivers and offensive weapons.
Although these players will be missed, the Griffins may have their most explosive offense in Rob Zvonar’s 23 years at Lincoln Way East. It will all start with transfer quarterback Jonas Williams. Williams is a 6’3”, 205-pound junior in the class of 2026 who committed to the University of Oregon late this summer. He threw for 2,950 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2023 for Bolingbrook High School. Several national media outlets have him rated as the top overall player in Illinois in the 2026 recruiting class.
In addition to Williams, the Griffins have running back Zion Gist back for his senior season. Gist (6’0”, 205) is an underrated player in the Midwest and has loads of talent. The Western Michigan commit had 825 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. He has an excellent combination of speed and power. Gist is shifty, has breakaway speed, and will lower his shoulder to finish his runs.
In the passing game, the Griffins have several players who will be threats for opposing defenses. Trey Zvonar is a 6’4”, 215-pound wide receiver and tight end committed to Miami (OH). His dad is also the head coach. Trey is athletic, can catch in traffic, will win the 50/50 balls, and is a relentless blocker. Christian Remblake (6’1”, 190), Sean LeFevour (6’2”, 200), and Keagan Ruane (6’1”, 185) are three more talented receivers who will shine in 2024.
In the trenches, Lincoln Way East has a solid group of linemen ready to dominate the line of scrimmage. Anthony Arrivo (6’2”, 270), Maximus Cioff (6’3”, 280), and Nick Bafia (6’4”, 260) are three senior interior linemen who are strong, powerful, and love to finish. Maximilian Wrobel (6’4”, 275) is projected to be the starting right tackle. Matthew Connors (6’5”, 255) is a 2026 offensive tackle, and Mason Halliman (6’5”, 245) is a 2027 offensive tackle. Both will compete for a starting job and provide depth to the position group.
On special teams, the Griffins have two nationally ranked players who are key pieces to a championship team. Ari Daniels (6’2, 170) is the #13 ranked Kicker/Punter in the US by Kohl’s Kicking Camp. Trey Serauskis (6’1”, 195) is a 2026 long snapper ranked #9 in the US and #1 in Illinois by Rubio Kicking Academy.
Defense
Lincoln Way East had arguably one of the best defenses in the Midwest. It allowed only 6.71 points per game and had five shutouts. Although they lost many players from last year’s defense, they will reload with a strong group of returners.
On the defensive line, the Griffins have two elite pass rushers, Caden O’Rourke and Jacob Alexander. O’Rourke is 6’5”, 230 pounds, and is committed to Northwestern. He was a huge problem for opposing offenses last season. He has the speed, power, and hands to overwhelm most offensive tackles. Alexander is rising up the rankings in the 2026 class. He has early offers from Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Cincinnati, and several more Power 4 colleges. These two guys will be stalking quarterbacks all season long and will be tough to contain.
Along with O’Rourke and Alexander, the Griffins have depth and young talent on the defensive line. Gage LaDere (6’2”, 260) and Chance Turner (6’5”, 230) are interior linemen who are in the 2026 recruiting class. Mike Jemilo (6’1”, 230) is a senior defensive tackle, and Jacob Onik (6’1”, 195) is a sophomore defensive end who will contribute this season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Griffins have defensive backs Jeremiah Powers (5’10”, 160) and Brayden Martell (5’10”, 165). Both are seniors and will lead the secondary. Tyson Zvonar (5’10”, 165) and Colton Zvonar (5’11”, 185) are two tough linebackers. Tyson is a senior, and Colton is a sophomore.
2024 Schedule
The Griffins will play Maine South in Week 1 on August 30. This will be a challenging game to start the season. Maine South was 10-2 last year and only lost to Chicago Brother Rice (10-7) in their first game and Barrington (42-40) in the 8A state playoffs. In the highly competitive Southwest Valley Blue Conference, they will have big games against Neuqua Valley, Lockport, Naperville North, and Homewood-Flossmoor. Lincoln Way East will play Naperville Central in a non-conference matchup to close out the regular season.
2024 Outlook
The Griffins have a great mix of returning players on both sides of the ball and an elite transfer quarterback in Jonas Williams. Caden O’Rourke and Jacob Alexander are two game-changing defensive ends that can make this team special. Zion Gist can rush for 1,500 yards and be a player who can take this team to another level.
They were close the last three years against Loyola Academy in the playoffs. This year, they could have all the right pieces in place to dethrone Loyola. The storyline is intriguing, with Ron Zvonar coaching his 24th season and his kids playing together for the last season. It would be a perfect way to write the ending of another chapter in his Hall of Fame coaching career. It will be exciting to see how it all plays out.
