Collective effort powers Libertyville
After Libertyville's football team met on its home field following a 55-0 romp of Mundelein, the winning offensive linemen dispersed and went pad hunting.
As part of their field-cleanup duties Friday night, they collected the orange, spongy yard-line markers, cradled them and took off sprinting.
Perhaps their zestful running style was influenced by their dynamic quarterback.
"Offense gets this side and defense gets that side," said Wildcats senior O-lineman Atakan Pekpolat, pointing to the visitor and home team sidelines.
QB Riley Lees explored both sides of the field in putting on another dizzying offensive show that helped Libertyville (5-2, 3-2 North Suburban Lake) become playoff-eligible on its homecoming night. Despite Mundelein (0-7, 0-4) having not won a game this season, the Wildcats did not take their rival lightly.
"They're probably the toughest 0-7 team," Lees said of the Mustangs. "They've been in games. Credit to them for that."
Lees rushed for a staggering 204 yards in the opening quarter and finished with 275 rushing yards on just 12 carries. The junior's 3 touchdowns - his 20th, 21st and 22nd of the season - had the Wildcats up 22-0 after one quarter. Lees also completed 7 of 11 passes for 116 yards and an 8-yard TD pass to Jake Mansfield.
"I'm glad I don't have to defend him," Libertyville coach Mike Jones said of his QB.
Lees capped a seven-play, 86-yard drive on the game's opening possession by spinning off tacklers and veering across the field to score from 24 yards out. He showed off his elusiveness again later in the quarter on a 48-yard touchdown run, again spinning away from defenders. Then late in the opening quarter, he dropped back to pass, scrambled and took off en route to an 82-yard TD run.
"I saw they were overflowing, so I just cut it back," Lees said. "I don't really 'think' when I'm playing. I just do."
"Sometimes if it's a play-action, (the defense) will tackle the running back," said Pekpolat, the only senior on an offensive line that includes juniors Walker Hare, Sean O'Malley, Bradley Deberry and Jonathan Evers. "Then we'll see Riley running the other way, so we'll be like, 'We got to go get on someone else.' It's fun, but sometimes we get caught staring at what he does. It's hard not to watch and block someone."
Libertyville pulled out some trickery, too. Holder Nick Rossetti fired a PAT pass to Hunter Reimers after Lees' second TD, and a "double pass" saw Lees throw an overhand lateral to Tim Calamari, who hit a wide-open Rossetti from 50 yards out and 28-0 lead in the second quarter.
"We've been looking to use our PAT fake all year long," Jones said. "You just need the right situation, and we had it. Now someone has to prepare for it."
Noah Moderwell's 8-yard touchdown run, following Ryan Maher's blocked punt, had the Wildcats up 35-0 at halftime. Senior Quade Kayle busted off a pair of touchdown runs from 32 yards out to finish the scoring.
Mundelein QB Colten Fisher rushed 16 times for 70 yards and completed 3 passes to Jake Buscher. Libertyville's Liam Hayek and Mundelein's Lucas Zepeda had interceptions.
"We just came out firing and did our job," Lees said. "We just wanted to start strong and finish strong."