Vernon Hills handles North Chicago

Senior night festivities pushed the start time of Vernon Hills' season finale with visiting North Chicago until nearly 8 p.m.

“I was itching before the game,” said Evan Spencer, one of the seniors the school feted before the game. “It was nice before the game, but I was like, ‘C'mon, we need to get onto the field.'”

Once Spencer got on the field, North Chicago had a hard time keeping him and the Cougars out of the end zone. Spencer scored 4 of the Cougars' 7 touchdowns in the 55-6 rout. Spencer scored twice via the run, once via the pass, and once via the punt return as Vernon Hills (8-1, 6-0 North Suburban Prairie) sealed its second straight outright conference title.

And though the Cougars will host at least one more home game, Spencer and fellow senior phenorm DaVaris Daniels left some lasting impressions for its home fans. With Daniels' father, Washington Redskins defensive end Philip Daniels in attendance for the first time all season, the junior Daniels scored a touchdown of his own on a 55-yard touchdown run, completed 3-of-4 passes for 29 yards and caught 2 passes for 51 yards.

He also provided a highlight-reel block on Spencer's punt return. As Spencer camped under a North Chicago punt at the Vernon Hills' 26, Daniels picked off North Chicago's Nigel Williams, who had up to that point covered that punt perfectly.

“I didn't see it, but DaVaris told me about it,” Spencer said. “I'll see it tomorrow.”

“We thought they were going to fake it,” Daniels said. “I was back playing defensive back, and then they punted and I saw (Williams) coming down the sideline, so I was sure to put a hat on him.”

The punt return put the Cougars up 21-0. Vernon Hills was set to strike again when a Daniels pass was intercepted by Darrell Robinson at the North Chicago 3. The Warhawks (1-8, 1-5 NSC Prairie) responded with an 87-yard drive capped with a 1-yard touchdown connection from quarterback Jermaine Garrett to Keenan Handy.

After Vernon Hills struck quickly on a 3-play 60-yard drive highlighted by a 40-yard run by Marcus Bradford, the Cougars got the ball back with 19 seconds left in the half thanks to a Wayne Didier sack causing a fumble recovered by Cedric Lyons.

After quarterback Chris Argianas completed two quick passes, the Cougars called a halfback option in which Daniels connected down the right sideline to Spencer for 23 yards. Spencer couldn't keep his balance to stay in bounds, but he scored on the next play as time expired for the half.

“With Evan at receiver, the defense can't key on any one person,” Daniels said. “They could key on him, but I am a threat to run, too. It's pretty easy with teammates like that.”

The Cougars had seven running backs with 20 yards or more and each averaged more than four yards per carry for the night.

“When we get rolling, and we get that swagger, we're tough to stop,” said Monken, who will be watching today for who his first-round opponent will be. “We have a lot of people who can hurt you.”

For Daniels, it was a little extra special with his father in his attendance. The elder Daniels received permission from the Redskins to arrive in Chicago early in advance of Sunday's game with the Bears so that he could participate in the festivities. After the game, he addressed the team and promised to return in two weeks should the Cougars make the second round. Washington has a bye Nov. 7.

“It's very special with him here on senior night,” DaVaris Daniels said. “I wanted to do something big tonight.”