Joliet Central put an end to the state’s longest football losing streak on Saturday, September 17, 2016, when the Steelmen edged Plainfield Central 38-35 at home. The Steelemen had lost their previous 57 contests.

Joliet Central junior quarterback Zach Wisneski threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jojo McNair with 29 seconds remaining in the game to lift the Steelmen to the victory.

Joliet West and Joliet Central had combined sports teams from 1993 until 2010. Saturday’s win marked the first time that Joliet Central was able to turn on its victory light following a football game since the programs split back into separate teams in 2010.

Fourth-year head coach Brett Boyter hails from a football family (his father Jim coached Joliet Catholic Academy to an IHSA state title in 1987 and his uncle Tom Thayer played on the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears) and was humble in victory, telling the assembled media, “The toughest part about today is that there had to be a loser. I know that’s a real tough loss for them to take, but I think they will get their W soon, within the next few weeks.”