Only three games into the season, and Waukegan coach John Neff has seen enough.
That’s because his Bulldogs would be hard pressed to repeat Saturday’s performance: a stunning 28-17 upset of No. 10 Maine West for the Bulldogs’ first victory of the year.
“In my mind–and I’ve been here 20 years–it’s one of the greatest efforts we’ve had as a varsity football team,” said Neff.
It was no fluke, either, as Waukegan (1-2) got on the Warriors (2-1) early and often. Just 12 seconds into the game, from the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Jermaine Lewis took off 67 yards for a touchdown.
Lewis then found senior Kendon Edwards, playing in his first varsity game, for a 46-yard touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 halftime lead.
Neff employed a bold game plan offensively, going right at Maine West’s 6-foot-7-inch defensive lineman Andy Lightfoot. Two of the Bulldogs’ touchdowns came on successful traps of Lightfoot: Lewis’ second touchdown, a 66-yard run, and a 61-yard romp by Keenan Wells, which made the score 28-11.
Lewis also was instrumental on defense. Playing safety, the senior captain helped keep Maine West’s explosive running back, Alex Voltaire, out of the defensive secondary. Voltaire did rush for 193 yards and both Maine West touchdowns but needed 34 carries to do it and didn’t break any long runs.
Defensive back Harold Turney made 12 tackles to lead the Waukegan; Lewis had eight and assisted on seven.
Evanston 47, Niles North 0: Four different Evanston players scored en route to the shutout. Behind the play of Siaka Massaquoi (15 carries, 177 yards, two TDs) and receiver Adam Jakush (two TDs), No. 5 Evanston racked up 28 first-half points. Obinno Coley added a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown for the Wildkits (3-0).
Austin 18, Orr 8: Eddie Jackson threw for a touchdown and also scored on a 15-yard interception return to lead Austin (2-1).
Brother Rice 28, Marist 21: The Crusaders (3-0, 1-0 Suburban Catholic Blue) rallied for 21 fourth-quarter points to beat Marist (2-1, 1-0) and take control of the Red Ribbon trophy, given annually to the game’s winner.
Late in the fourth quarter and facing fourth down, Brother Rice ran a fake punt for a first down to set up Kevin Badke’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Mike Archie, pulling the Crusaders within 21-14. Matt Daniher’s 1-yard TD run then gave Brother Rice the lead for good with 1:22 left.
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Carmel 33, Gordon Tech 12: Jon Styx’s 19-yard touchdown run gave the Corsairs (2-1, 1-0 Catholic Metro Blue) a 20-12 lead late in the third quarter. Styx rushed for three TDs and 131 yards.
Fenton 31, Elmwood Park 6: Jim Taft had a pair of 67-yard touchdown runs to pace Fenton (1-2) to the non-conference victory.
Hillcrest 26, Julian 14: The Hawks (1-2) trailed 14-6 at the half but rallied with three second-half TDs, highlighted by Sean Coleman’s 40-yard run, to claim the non-conference victory. A 4-yard run by Terry Young and a 5-yarder by Deon Pearman accounted for Hillcrest’s other second-half scores. Coleman finished with 151 yards on 13 carries.
Holy Cross 42, St. Joseph 8: Steve Scola threw three TD passes and ran for two others as the Crusaders (1-2, 1-0) rolled in the Suburban Catholic Red.
King 14, Englewood 6: James Rainey had touchdown runs of 26 and 35 yards as the Jaguars (3-0) built a 14-0 halftime lead.
Lane Tech 36, Chicago Vocational 20: Israel Diaz had two touchdowns in the Indians’ (1-2) non-conference victory. Bruce McKinney led the Cavaliers (1-2) with two touchdown runs.
Lisle 20, Seneca 7: Chris McCullough ran for 117 yards and two TDs in the Lions’ (1-2, 1-0) Interstate Eight victory. Jason Cates added a 2-yard TD run for Lisle.
Maine East 24, Glenbrook North 18: The Demons (1-2) recovered a Glenbrook North on-side kick late in the game to stop a Spartan rally. Maine East, which took a 24-6 lead into the fourth quarter, was paced by touchdown runs by Riyad Masri (29 yards) and Dwayne Philippe (2 yards). Dan Baus added an 80-yard interception return for a TD. Dennis Kim’s two touchdown runs highlighted Glenbrook North’s offense.
Morton 10, Proviso West 7: Aaron Gentille’s 2-yard touchdown run with 3:30 left won the game for the Mustangs (2-1).
Nazareth 56, Luther South 14: Nazareth (3-0, 1-0) rolled in its Private School League opener as Phil Reed rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns, while QB Sean Egan added 157 yards on the ground and tossed two TDs. Tavaris Guider led Luther South (0-3, 0-1) with 117 rushing yards and a TD.
New Trier 22, Deerfield 0: Led by QB Mark Tapley’s 139 yards and one touchdown pass and linebacker Pete Kelly’s 11 tackles and two sacks, New Trier (2-1, 1-0 Central Suburban South) shut out visiting Deerfield (1-2, 0-1). Joe Bell kicked field goals of 22, 27 and 29 yards and Mike Mahoney scored on a 12-yard run for the Trevians.
Notre Dame 44, Hales Franciscan 6: After Hales scored on the first play of the game, the Dons (3-0, 1-0 Catholic Metro Green) put together a balanced offensive performance to score 44 unanswered points to remain undefeated.
Oak Lawn 35, T.F. South 20: Nick Jelcic ran for two touchdowns to power Oak Lawn (2-1, 1-0) in the SICA Orange.
Rich East 42, Kankakee 9: John White had touchdown runs of 4 and 62 yards and Walter Young threw for three TDs, two of which went to Maurice Williams as Rich East (3-0, 1-0) breezed to the SICA Orange victory. Dick McNutt chipped in with a 75-yard interception return.
Round Lake 47, Harlan 8: Joe Miller threw for 115 yards and three TDs, the longest a 54-yard bomb to Albert Lozano in the first quarter, and also ran 30 yards for another score to lead Round Lake (2-1) over Harlan (0-3). On defense, Miller made six solo tackles.
St. Laurence 28, Fenwick 16: Joe Martinez rushed for 165 yards, including a 61-yard first-quarter touchdown run, and also caught a 24-yard TD pass from Mike Schuch (14 for 22 passing, 150 yards) to lead St. Laurence (1-2, 1-0) to its first victory. Fenwick is 1-2, 0-1 in the Catholic Metro White.
Simeon 42, Kenwood 0: Dennis Butler scored on runs of 5 and 49 yards, caught a 63-yard pass for a touchdown and returned an interception 90 yards for a fourth score as the Wolverines (3-0) rolled. Dante Culbreath chipped in with a 63-yard interception return for Simeon.
Thornridge 26, Joliet 20: The Falcons (1-2, 1-0) scored 26 unanswered points in the second half to secure the SICA Blue victory. Raymond Williams had a 46-yard touchdown run to give Thornridge its first lead with just over 3 minutes left.
Walther Lutheran 40, Peotone 14: Walther’s balance was too much for Peotone (0-3). Patrick Walters rushed for 122 of his 134 yards in the first half, and Josh Schubkegel threw for 133 yards and two TDs to lead the Broncos (3-0). After recovering an onside kick to start the game, Peotone took a 7-0 lead on Bill Izzi’s 4-yard run. Walters then ran 57 yards for a TD to even the score.
Washington 24, Amundsen 0: Kevin McPherson ran for two TDs and the Minutemen (3-0) recorded their third straight shutout.