Swittel earns first victory as Spartans coach
Lehman-Gregg account for three scores in win at Grafton
Brookfield East's C.J. Gregg is hoping his luck will change his senior year.
One of the most talented athletes at the school, he has yet to experience a winning season on the gridiron or the basketball court.
Gregg got his final football season off to a good start, catching three touchdown passes from senior quarterback Jonathan Lehman, helping the Spartans to a 42-7 win at Grafton. The win came in Tom Swittel's first game as East's head coach.
"It felt great," Swittel said afterward. "We've come such a long way in such a short period of time. We were able to look pretty good offensively, and our defense played great.
"We excited people, and that made it all worthwhile. The kids have bought into what we're doing. They proved a lot. They had to learn a lot of different schemes. We have a ways to go, but things started to come together Friday night."
Gregg, Lehman key
Swittel was pleased with his team's play in the opener, especially the performances of Gregg and Lehman.
"C.J. presents problems for the defense," Swittel said of the 6-foot-5 wide receiver. "If you try single coverage, forget it. He's going to get the ball. If they double-covered him, it helped us elsewhere. You have to choose what you want to do. We isolated him, and he's going to be a mismatch."
Lehman also played well in the key quarterback position.
"There were a couple plays we let him call," Swittel said. "He's getting a feel for the offense."
After the game Swittel asked Gregg, who was moved outside this year from his previous position at tight end, whether he likes playing wide receiver or tight end better.
"He just smiled," Swittel said.
"I think they were happy to see the offense work," he said. "There are a lot of different ways we can attack people. Defensively, we totally shut down Grafton. I don't think they had more than three first downs."
Great defensive effort
Swittel then praised his defense and the defensive coaches: Craig Klumb, defensive coordinator; Brendan Gonring, defensive line; Ben Farley, defensive backs and George Furrey, linebackers.
"Without question, it was a great team defensive effort," he said. "Grafton runs the option. You have to be disciplined. You have to cover the dive, the quarterback pitch. We had that covered the entire night.
"We felt that our linebackers were really disciplined. The D-line made a lot of plays and our defensive backs made sure tackles. Our defensive coaches put together a nice game plan."
Home opener up next
The Spartans will now play their first home game at 7 p.m. Friday against Waukesha North, a team they beat last year, 27-7.
The game will be played under the lights after the Elmbrook School Board reversed its controversial decision last week to have the lights taken down, even after two consulting firms said the light poles checked out as structurally sound.
SCOREBOARD
By Quarters: Brookfield East (7-14-21-0-42), Grafton (7-0-0-0-7)
First Quarter: (GF) Joe Grams, 79-yard run (Grams kick); (BE) Jonathan Lehman, 1-yard run (Zach Schober kick)
Second Quarter: (BE) CJ Gregg, 16-yard pass from Lehman (Schober kick); (BE) Schober, 4-yard interception return
Third Quarter: (BE) Gregg, 7-yard pass from Lehman (Schober kick); (BE) Tedrick Boone, 49-yard run, (Schober kick); (BE) Gregg, 23-yard pass from Lehman (Schober kick)
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