The Lions’ season ended last year with a heartbreaking loss to their conference rivals, the York Dukes, in the second round of the IHSA District 8A Playoffs. The loss came on a last second field goal by York, making the score 17-14. The loss lit a fire under the Lions this offseason. Quarterback Dominic Pisciotti ‘25 said it was definitely something that ate away at the team.

“Of course, it’s added motivation for the whole offseason,” Pisciotti said. “It hurts knowing that we had so many opportunities to win that game, and we didn’t come out on top. It was definitely something that pushed us to the limit during our offseason lifts. [There was] more intent behind everything for sure.”

Pisciotti, along with wide receiver and cornerback Travis Stamm ‘25, both agreed that the offseason was the time that the team really grew into a contending squad. This time included their strenuous workout program that runs from December to June to the summer camp running from June until the start of the season. 

“It’s a short season,” Stamm said. “The work between the seasons is when everything happens. The nine months a year when we’re not playing is when we’re really working our tail off, and it’s paid off for us.”

Senior leadership and team chemistry have played an integral role in the Lions’ mid-season undefeated run, Pisciotti said.

“I think this is the best chemistry we’ve had all around, and it’s honestly the most important thing for a team,” Pisciotti said. “Most of the guys have been playing together since fourth or fifth grade with LFC. We’re all brothers just playing football. It means more than football.”

The offense, led by Pisciotti as quarterback and anchored by his offensive line, has averaged 36.8 points per game, six games through the season, and has not allowed Pisciotti to be sacked at all this season.

“We may not have as big of an offensive line as we did last year, but we’re a hundred percent better than we were last year up front,” Pisciotti said. “That just goes to show how important of a factor each 1/11th is to our team.” 

The stout defense has also played a major role in the Lions’ hot start, Stamm said. Only allowing 10.5 points per game so far this season, the defensive front has been wreaking havoc on the opposing offensive lines and getting pressure on the quarterback, while the secondary has been making plays and forcing turnovers through forced fumbles and interceptions. 

The Lions started their season with two big non-conference wins against the Prospect Knights at home and on the road against the Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers. Their conference schedule started with a rivalry showdown against the Hinsdale Central Red Devils, where LT ended up winning 21-16, and the Lions haven’t looked back since. 

They have gone undefeated, winning each game so far, including a Homecoming victory against Glenbard West, their first win against the Hilltoppers since 2016, with the final score being 24-7. 

The Lions start their postseason run in November, looking to avenge last year’s loss in the second round in the IHSA District 8A State Playoffs. 

“We want to win the state championship,” Pisciotti said. “We take it week by week, but that’s all we think about.”