Zach Oles and Palatine made their point about Mid-Suburban League football.
More Top Picks Best Jun Tea Brewing Kits
The MSL’s entire West division did.
All that’s left is for the West’s teams to play one another after No. 8 Palatine highlighted another strong Friday night by the division with a 41-21 victory over New Trier in Northfield.
Quarterback Zach Oles had another big game, Palatine’s offense piled up more than 500 yards, and Jake Moertl returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown to highlight the MSL West’s second straight week of domination over the Central Suburban South.
The leagues came together on a two-week scheduling agreement this season, and the MSL West went 5-1 both weeks and currently has three 4-0 teams and two others at 3-1.
“We just did what we had to do,” Oles said. “We knew we were going to have to make plays against a really good team. New Trier is physical. That’s a good team.”
New Trier (2-2) stayed with Palatine (4-0) for most of the first half despite fumbling away its first possession on the kickoff and the pick-six by Moertl.
The turning point came at the end of the half, when Oles took the Pirates 92 yards in 35 seconds to give them a 21-7 halftime lead.
Palatine scored again early in the second half and turned the offense over to running back Josh Turner while building a 41-14 lead.
“The turnovers killed us,” New Trier coach Brian Doll said. “You take those out and it’s a much closer game. You want to be in close games like this early in the season. (I was a) little disappointed making the errors and not being able to respond so quick.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Zach Oles, Palatine, 229 passing yards, 2 TDs, TD run.
Key performers: Palatine — Jake Moertl, 2 INTs, 1 returned for TD; Jack Grochowski, 4 receptions, 124 yards, TD; Josh Turner, 15 carries, 158 yards, 2 TDs. New Trier — Clay Czyzynski, 193 passing yards, 3 TDs.