Vernon Hills picks up key Week 9 victory

Those lumps, some of which were physical, that Connor McNamara endured two years ago all seemed worth it as Vernon Hills' senior quarterback walked out of Round Lake's stadium.

McNamara had just thrown for 310 yards and 5 touchdown passes and ran for another score, as the Cougars beat the pesky Panthers 51-14 in a North Suburban Prairie Division finale Friday night.

The win clinched the Cougars' first playoff berth since 2010, when they won a school-record 10 games in advancing to the Class 5A state quarterfinals. Two years ago, with McNamara throwing to fellow sophomores Kiwanne Durant and Andres Salazar, Vernon Hills finished 3-6.

"That was a tough one," said McNamara, all smiles now. "But it was definitely worth it. I'll take all the hits and all the times getting down on myself for throwing picks for finally making (the playoffs)."

Vernon Hills (6-3, 4-2), which snapped a three-game losing streak, now waits until Saturday night to see who it will face in the opening round of the playoffs. After beating Round Lake (1-8, 1-5), Cougars coach Bill Bellecomo told his players, some of whom will be taking the ACT or going on college visits Saturday, that they can have the day off. He also told them they'll be getting playoff T-shirts next week.

"That's something the dads wanted to get them," Bellecomo said. "I said, 'Yeah, why not?' "

"(Making the playoffs) is very exciting," said junior receiver/safety Drew Winegardner, who caught a touchdown pass, ran for a score and intercepted two passes. "We got a good team. We really think we can compete with anybody. We haven't had very good luck with the losses we've had, but nobody wants to draw us at 6-3."

Vernon Hills played without one of the top receiving threats, Kyle Hull, who injured his shoulder in last week's double-overtime loss to Warren. His absence provided opportunities for other Cougars, including Winegardner, who's played a bigger role in the offense in recent weeks. He missed the first three weeks of the season with a shoulder injury.

"He's one of our MVPs," Bellecomo said. "He does everything for us."

Up 39-0 at halftime, thanks largely to McNamara's 4 TD tosses, including a pair to fellow veteran Durant, Vernon Hills couldn't shake its opponent. Round Lake never allowed the game to get to a running clock. Panthers junior quarterback Tabieas Young threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Nick Kowalski and scored from 2 yards out. Young finished with 101 yards on the ground.

"They fought to the very end," McNamara said of the Panthers. "That quarterback played real hard. He was tough to bring down. It looked like he was dragging piles 9 yards. They have a lot to be proud of."

So do McNamara and his teammates.

The Cougars also got TDs from Josh Williams (46-yard catch), Jonathan McGuire (30-yard catch) and backup QB Jack Himel (43-yard run). Three-year varsity starter Salazar contributed an interception and PAT kick.

"We've come up short the last three weeks, and I thought we could have won all three," Bellecomo said. "The Warren game was heartbreaking."