Week 3 recap: How Chicagoland high school football teams fared 

Here’s how Chicagoland high school football teams fared in Week 3 of play.

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Lincoln-Way East 38, Homewood-Flossmoor 7

Most defensive players dream about what Lincoln-Way East’s Ryan Manzke did Friday night.

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While the Griffins were posting a near shutout on the road, Manzke showed off just what it takes to score a touchdown. And the junior linebacker made sure to put on the finishing touches.

“I was in my zone, I saw the ball and went up and I just snatched it,” Manzke said, recalling the memorable sequence. “Once I secured it, I wanted to get down. It was such a wonderful feeling.”

Manzke led the way with six tackles and the interception return for a TD as the Griffins eased to a 38-7 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over host Homewood-Flossmoor in Flossmoor. Read more here.

Geneva 49, St. Charles North 17

After missing the majority of last year due to an injury, Geneva’s Nelson Wendell has been an easy player for his teammates to root for during the early stages of this football season.

The senior running back/linebacker set the tone Friday night for Geneva, running for 95 yards and two touchdowns in a stunning 49-17 DuKane Conference victory over visiting St. Charles North. Read more here.

Providence 27, Joliet Catholic 0

Providence’s Isaac Patton made a play Friday night that he will definitely want to remember for a while.

His 96-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final seconds of the first half sparked the host Celtics on their way to a 27-0 win over Joliet Catholic in a Catholic League crossover. Read more here.

Libertyville 21, Warren 6

Libertyville’s Kaden Butt, a senior linebacker/running back, certainly played to win during the Wildcats’ North Suburban Conference game against Warren on Friday and Saturday, making plays all over the field on both sides of the ball — and, yes, on both days.

In a game that was suspended due to lightning at halftime on Friday night and was completed Saturday morning, Butt caught a 72-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jackson Yarc on the first play from scrimmage and didn’t stop as the Wildcats won 21-6. Read more here.

Lincoln-Way West 31, Andrew 6

It would be interesting to see where Lincoln-Way West would be in football without sophomore Davey Koszulinski.

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He started out at receiver but is filling in at quarterback while senior Jacob Howard mends from an injury suffered in the season opener. And he has picked up some great on-the-job training.

Koszulinski completed 6 of 8 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns Friday night to help the host Warriors roll to a 31-6 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over Andrew in New Lenox. Read more here.

Hersey 49, Neuqua Valley 14

After a long commute, Hersey pulled up at Neuqua Valley in a couple of coach buses on Friday night.

There was no evidence Jackson Travis drove one of the buses. But once the game kicked off, he carried the offense like he owned a chauffeur’s license.

The junior running back gained 165 yards on nine carries in the first half alone as Hersey started fast and rolled to a 49-14 nonconference victory in Naperville. Read more here.

Wheaton North 24, Lake Park 15

Despite a temperature that felt like 100 degrees at game time on Friday, Lake Park ran its offense at an up-tempo pace.

But Wheaton North running back Mac Murray and his teammates on the offensive line countered with their own tempo.

Murray carried the ball 34 times for 210 yards and three touchdowns, including a 1-yard blast up the middle that capped the scoring with 1:54 left on the clock, as the unbeaten Falcons won 24-15 in the DuKane Conference opener at Bob Monken Field in Roselle. Read more here.

Crown Point 23, Merrillville 14

Crown Point’s Jaden Saddler delivered on a sweltering Friday night when it mattered most.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior cornerback recovered a muffed punt early in the third quarter and made an interception in the waning seconds of the fourth in the Bulldogs’ Duneland Athletic Conference showdown at Merrillville, a game pitting the Region’s top two teams and two of the state’s best.

“It felt great, but I know I couldn’t do it alone because my teammates were there,” Saddler said. “When I was messing up, when I was giving up the deep balls and a touchdown, they were there for me. They picked me back up when I was down. They picked me up.”

Indeed, it was a collective effort as Crown Point contained Merrillville’s high-powered offense, led by senior quarterback Michael Hill Jr., to win 23-14. Read more here.

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