Until high school, Lincoln-Way Central’s Lucas Andresen had never played tackle football.
The 6-foot-4 junior wide receiver learned all about the game while playing flag football, but he has made the transition to full contact with ease for the Knights. And he appears to be a natural.
“I had to learn how to block and tackle and get my running backs into open space,” Andresen said after Friday night’s easier win. “It’s been a great journey, and I’m really glad I chose it.
“I watched a lot of film, but mostly I know how to use my body to get inside defensive backs and make plays. I’m getting into my spot and I know my quarterback is going to put it in a great place.”
Andresen owned the place in Des Plaines, connecting with junior quarterback Drew Woodburn for two touchdown passes in a 49-7 win over Maine West in a Class 7A first-round playoff game.
The 24th-seeded Knights (7-3) will host a second-round game next week against 25th-seeded Hoffman Estates (7-3), which defeated Lincoln Park 30-14.
Sophomore safety Nolan Morrill started a 35-point eruption in the first half Friday with a 93-yard TD on a punt return. Junior running back Luke Tingley ran for 108 yards and scored two twice.
Andresen tallied his sixth and seventh TDs of the season, first hauling in a 12-yard scoring reception in the closing seconds of the second quarter. He punctuated the victory with a 14-yard catch on the opening possession of the third quarter.
His 19-yard catch in the second quarter set up a 1-yard TD dive by Woodburn, the son of coach Dave Woodburn.
“He’s having a great year,” Dave Woodburn said of Andresen, who had three catches for 46 yards Friday. “We brought him up last year halfway through his sophomore year and he’s learned a lot.
“He has matured and grown. He’s very effective with his size. We don’t throw the ball that much, but when we do, he is very effective in what he does.”
Drew Woodburn said his chemistry with Andresen is a natural given their friendship that dates to the sixth grade. The two also play basketball together.
“He’s a great ballplayer,” Drew said. “We’ve been growing up playing together forever. We just did what the coaches wanted us to do. He ran good routes, offensive line protected me, and I got him the ball.
“He’s one of my closest friends off the field, and he’s just a good person.”
Working off a 56-yard kickoff return from junior running back Justin Cobbs, the Knights needed just 16 seconds to answer the only score by Maine West.
Andresen worked into the back of the end zone for the catch with 4.6 seconds to play.
“I knew there wasn’t much time left, and I just try to get the ball and get my team some points,” Andresen said. “We’ve grown up together, and we have built this chemistry, and we just trust each other. We’re both capable of making plays, and we just go and do it every night.
“I think my best qualities are just finding the opening and using my size to help my team be successful.”
If his debut as a sophomore last season provided a blue print, Andresen has expanded his game and flashed excellent technique, hands and the ability to make plays in traffic this fall.
His father played football and his mother played basketball at Lincoln-Way Central.
But now, he’s making a name for himself.
“Football is the greatest team sport in America,” Andresen said. “I just love coming out here with my guys and fighting. I play basketball, but now I prefer football.
“Having a night like this and knowing we’re successful and we’re going to have a home playoff game next really punches it home.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
