Fireworks lit up the sky above Libertyville’s football field just before the start of Friday night’s Class 7A playoff game between Downers Grove North and the Wildcats.
As things turned out, the fireworks didn’t end when the game began.
Two touchdowns were scored on the game’s first four plays, three touchdowns were on the board after just 10 plays, and the scoring never really stopped in a wild contest that Libertyville eventually won 56-24.
The Wildcats (10-0) will host Lincoln-Way East (8-2) in the second round next weekend. Downers Grove North (5-5) won its final three regular-season games just to make the playoffs.
And having worked that hard to get in, the Trojans certainly made themselves a tough out. It wasn’t until the second half that the Wildcats were able to seize control of the game for good.
That occurred in the third quarter when Northwestern wide receiver recruit/Libertyville quarterback Riley Lees scored on runs of 9 and 25 yards to break the game open at 49-24. A 4-yard TD run by Noah Moderwell in the fourth quarter ended the scoring.
Lees finished with 277 rushing yards on 18 carries. He was 9-for-10 passing for 126 yards. Moderwell carried 15 times for 122 yards.
Libertyville scored on eight straight possessions, only failing to score on its final drive.
“We knew we had to come in and have a team effort,” Lees said. “I thought everyone did their jobs well and we came out with the win.
“Our offense ran smoothly. The offensive line did a great job.”
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Those three second-half touchdowns came after a wild first half in which 59 points were scored and Libertyville led just 35-24.
Libertyville got the scoring started on the game’s third play when Lees threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Henry Schmidt (6 catches, 78 yards, 2 TDs). Lees set up the score with a 60-yard run on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
Downers Grove answered with Drew Shelly’s 65-yard TD run on its first play.
Then it was Libertyville’s turn again, and a six-play scoring drive made it 14-7. Lees’ 25-yard pass to Cam Shaffer produced the points.
Downers Grove then dipped into the bag of tricks, as a fake punt keyed an 18-play, 80-yard drive that tied it up at 14-14. Brandon Bancoro scored on a 3-yard run.
Eight plays later, Libertyville was back ahead 21-14 on Lees’ 2-yard TD pass to Ben Kimpler to complete a 74-yard drive.
But still, Downers North would not go quietly into the night. A 3-yard TD run by Bancoro tied it for the final time at 21-21 with 4 minutes, 22 seconds to go in the half.
But that’s when the game turned Libertyville’s way for good.
Moderwell’s 2-yard run capped a five-play, 73-yard scoring drive and put the Cats up for good at 28-21 with 2:48 on the first-half clock.
About a minute later, it was 35-21 as Nick Neumann’s interception led to a 12-yard TD pass from Lees to Schmidt.
On the final play of the half, Maxwell Sirianni kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 35-24, but the second half was all Wildcats.
Joliet Catholic 48, Vernon Hills 29: The Cougars (5-5) rallied in the fourth quarter to make the game close. Joliet Catholic (9-1) will play either Belvidere (6-3) or Marian Central (7-2) in the second round.
Stevenson 43, Conant 35: The defending Class 8A champs rallied for a first-round win over Conant (6-4). Stevenson (7-3) will play at West Aurora (5-4) or Loyola (9-0) next weekend..
Phillyp Bonato is a freelance writer for the News-Sun.
News-Sun staff contributed to this story.