Libertyville weathers Downers Grove North's challenge
During his pregame talk, coach Mike Jones told his Libertyville football team that one side of the ball was not going to win the Wildcats' Class 7A state-playoff opener.
One word helped the Wildcats keep their focus against No. 30 Downers Grove North.
"The word of the week was unity," Wildcats wide receiver Henry Schmidt said. "Before the game, we were talking about if someone wasn't doing their part, it was up to the other side of the ball to do their job."
Done.
Quarterback Riley Lees rushed for 278 yards and 2 scores and threw 4 touchdown passes, as No. 3 Libertyville overcame a shaky first-half performance from its defense to remain undefeated by beating the No. 30 seed 56-24 Friday night.
"First half, they came out and they hit us," Wildcats linebacker Hunter Reimers said of the Trojans. "They were really strong and fast and a really physical team. From the beginning, we were trying to get hands on them, and when they got in our face, that was when they were successful. (In the second half), our defensive line stepped up. They plugged in the holes and allowed everyone behind them to fill."
On a night Libertyville (10-0) struggled to make plays against the Trojans' veer option, the Wildcats got a big one from Reimers on the first snap of the second half. An interception by Nick Neumann late in the opening half had helped give Libertyville a short field before extending its lead to 35-21. Downers North (5-5) got a 38-yard field goal from Maxwell Sirianni on the final play of the half.
On first down from the Downers North 32, Reimers recovered a fumble, giving the ball to Libertyville at the 33. Four plays later, Lees scored from 9 yards out and the Wildcats' advantage was 42-24 with just 2:02 gone in the third quarter.
"What changed the game was the first play of the second half," Downers North coach John Wander.
"That thing kind of opened up for me," Reimers said of his fumble recovery. "I just saw an open hole, and our defensive line and our other 'backers filled. (The ball) was really just in front of me. I just picked it up."
Libertyville didn't allow a point in the second half, with Neumann and Reimers helping thwart the Trojans on fourth-and-goal from the 1 in the fourth quarter.
The first half was a different story. The two teams traded touchdowns until the first of 2 TD runs by Noah Moderwell (15 carries, 118 yards) gave Libertyville the lead for good at 28-21 with 2:48 left in the second quarter. Downers North got a 65-yard TD run from sophomore Drew Shelly on its first play from scrimmage and pair of short touchdown runs from quarterback Brandon Bancoro (32 rushes, 120 yards).
Downers North put together first-half drives of 18 and 11 plays.
"It's not something we see everyday," Jones said of the Trojans' offensive scheme. "We knew at some point there'd be a little bit of a learning curve, because you can't simulate that (offense) in practice."
Lees tossed TD passes of 9 and 12 yards to Schmidt, 25 yards to Cam Shaffer and 2 yards to Ben Kimpler. Libertyville's first-team offense scored on all eight of its possessions.
"We tried to control the ball and take time off (the clock), but when they can score in a minute, 30 (seconds), a minute 40 (seconds), it doesn't really matter," Wander said. "Our kids gave it their all."
So did the Wildcats, including their all-state QB. Lees finished 9-of-10 passing for 126 yards. His second touchdown run covered 25 yards on fourth-and-6.
"That's a very special player they have on that team," Wander said. "Hats off to that kid. He's tough to stop."