Fisher, Mundelein find their way past Zion-Benton
Good teams always find a way to win.
And while this one wasn't pretty, Mundelein got the much-needed shot in the arm it was looking for after stunning host Zion-Benton 28-22 in overtime.
The win snaps a three-game skid for the Mustangs (4-2, 1-2) and puts them in the thick of the playoff hunt, as five wins are required for postseason consideration.
"This means the world to us," said Mundelein quarterback Colten Fisher, who had a lot to do with the outcome of this contest. "It shows we are a good team and that we can contend. I just try and do my part. The offensive line was awesome tonight opening holes and blocking."
Fisher, one of the area's leading rushers, added to his prolific season on a blustery evening in Zion.
He finished with 164 yards on 36 carries and safe to say, was the difference in the outcome.
After Zion-Benton (2-4, 0-4 NSC Lake) got the ball first in overtime and failed to score, Fisher and the boys took their turn from the 10-yard line. On the third play from scrimmage, Fisher looked like he lost the ball but had already crossed the goal line from a yard out for the winning tally as the Mundelein faithful went ballistic.
"We sputtered a bit on offense but came up big when we needed to," said Mustangs coach Larry Calhoun. "We kept shooting ourselves in the foot and had some bad penalties. But we showed a lot of resiliency."
The defense came up big late in regulation when defensive lineman Isaiah Woolford sacked quarterback DeAndre Green for a 5-yard loss. That forced a Zion-Benton punt, and into a prevailing wind, the Mustangs got the ball in excellent field position at the Zee-Bees 35-yard line.
In a wild series that included a roughing the passer call on Zion-Benton, Fisher then did his thing.
His quarterback keeper on fourth and 1 from the Zion 10 kept hopes alive. Then with, 48 ticks left in regulation and down 22-14, Fisher bolted in from the 5-yard line to draw his team within 2 at 22-20.
Having to go for 2, Fisher then calmly tossed the 2-conversion pass to junior wideout Aaron Woolford, and it was on to the overtime session.
"We just stayed positive. Whenever someone's head got down, I picked them up," said Fisher.
Mundelein had spotted the Zee-Bees a 12-0 first-quarter lead. But that quickly evaporated when Fisher scampered in from 17 yards out with 4:58 left in the first to draw within 12-7. Then, with 1:48 left in the opening act, Fisher scored again, this time galloping down the sidelines from 62 yards, and all suddenly the Mustangs led 14-12.
Zion-Benton reclaimed the lead at 22-14 in the second quarter with a 37-yard field goal, plus a 2-yard run by Green.
Neither team got much going offensively after that before the Mundelein fireworks late in the fourth.
Fisher's 4 touchdowns gave him 18 with three games - at least - remaining.
The Mustangs return home next Friday for another NSC Lake contest, this one against Lake Zurich.