The Evanston football team scored 42 points in its season-opening win against Proviso West, but that wasn’t the team’s best offensive performance this season, according to offensive coordinator Ryan Healy.
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Healy said that Friday, Sept. 11, earned that honor, even if the Wildkits did most of their work in the second half of the 28-14 victory over host Glenbrook North in a Central Suburban crossover game in Northbrook.
“We scored at will against Proviso West, but it wasn’t our best offense,” Healy said. “This was our best offense, by far.”
After scoring three points on a 30-yard field goal by junior Owen Ennis in the first half, Evanston (2-1) exploded for 25 unanswered points in the final 18 minutes, 13 seconds of the game.
A big reason for the offensive success was the running game.
Senior running backs Micquel Roseman and Kendall Coleman, who are half brothers, combined to run 23 times for 210 yards. Coleman started the game and had six carries for 42 yards in the first quarter. Roseman entered the game in the second quarter and finished with 12 rushes for 143 yards and three touchdowns.
Behind the backfield brothers, Evanston scored points on its first four possessions of the second half.
“Yes, I think this was our best offense of the year,” said Coleman, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound bruiser. “The line was opening up big holes for me.”
While Roseman is an inch taller and weighs the same as Coleman, he has a much different running style, as evidenced by his 46-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter when he got to the edge and outran the Glenbrook North defense.
“He’s quicker and likes to bounce it to the outside,” Coleman said as Roseman stood next to him. “I like to run people over.”
Roseman laughed at Coleman’s analysis, but he said he agreed. Roseman credited the week of practice with preparing him for Friday.
“The scout team gave us great looks, and that really carried over,” Roseman said.
Evanston coach Mike Burzawa said Coleman and Roseman have been a quality combination all season, but Friday was their breakout performance of the year.
“It was a true test of character for us to come back from 14-3,” Burzawa said, “and Micquel and Kendall were difference-makers for us.”
Notes
* Evanston senior quarterback Matt Little was efficient, finishing 11-for-16 for 129 yards and no turnovers.
The Wildkits host Maine East at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18.
Spartans senior running back John Clark is 3-for-3 in surpassing the 100-yard mark this season after totaling 141 yards on 26 carries. He scored his eighth touchdown of the year on a 2-yard run on the first series of the third quarter to give Glenbrook North a 14-3 lead. But he had only four carries the rest of the game.
By design, senior Nick Karis and junior Kevin Burnside split time at quarterback on Friday, Sept. 11. Karis started the first two games of the season, and he earned his third start against Evanston. But Glenbrook North coach Bob Pieper said he wanted to get Burnside some snaps before the beginning of Central Suburban North play on Friday, Sept. 25, against Highland Park. It was the first time Burnside played this year, and he was under center on both of the team’s scoring drives.
The Spartans play at Waukegan on Saturday, Sept. 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
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