Vernon Hills denies Grayslake Central

Balancing his 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame on crutches, barely audible due to a hoarse voice, Grayslake Central quarterback Sam Lennartz tried his best not to look or sound defeated.

"I'll be all right," said Lennartz, who left Friday night's season opener at Vernon Hills in the first quarter with an injury to his leg or knee and didn't return to the game. "It's just precautionary right now."

Lennartz's teammates displayed equal fight against the defending Class 5A state runner-up. Vernon Hills had enough to outlast Grayslake Central 28-12, however, marking the third year in a row that the Cougars beat the Rams on Opening Night.

"I think we learned a valuable lesson tonight," said Vernon Hills coach Bill Bellecomo, whose team graduated a star-studded senior class. "We still have that persona that we can just walk out and it will be like last year."

Bellecomo started four sophomores on defense, but it was a veteran who shined. Senior Luke Perlin, a returning starter in the secondary, had 2 interceptions, including a Pick Six, and also registered a safety.

"He played a great game," Bellecomo said. "He showed his leadership. He's a kid that's been around the program forever."

With the senior Lennartz running the offense, Grayslake Central opened the game with a 13-play drive, but the Rams stalled at the Vernon Hills 38. Lennartz completed 4 of 6 passes for 31 yards but got hurt during the series.

"That opening drive was probably one of the best drives we've had in four years," said coach Jason Schaal, whose Rams have just 1 win in his first three years. "We did a great job."

After Grayslake Central punted the ball away, Vernon Hills took over at its own 15, and first-year starting quarterback Derek Jarrell showed he can lead the Cougars down the field. The junior hit Jack Himel down the left sideline for a 39-yard strike to open the scoring.

Junior Ben Vogeler was under center for the Rams' second series of the night. Vernon Hills got Vogeler scrambling midway through the second quarter, and Perlin intercepted an errant pass, taking it 9 yards into the end zone.

Perlin's safety and Jarrell's 4-yard TD run had Vernon Hills up 20-0 after three quarters. But Vogeler scored from 3 yards out to cap a 15-play drive and get the Rams on the board with 11:08 left in the fourth. Then late in the game, Vogeler tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jayson Nardi.

"Ben played great," Schaal said. "Sam has gotten No. 1 reps (at quarterback) since last season ended. So for getting No. 2 reps and to come in at the seven-minute mark of the first quarter in the first game of the year, I thought Ben played really well."

Vogeler finished 12 of 24 for 107 yards.

"He's probably our most-improved player since the off-season," Schaal said. "He's pushed Sam. Which has made Sam a better quarterback."

Jarrell, who became a varsity starter at wide receiver in Week 5 of last season, finished 23 of 31 for 215 yards and no turnovers. He also threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Max Lyle, who caught 9 passes for 52 yards.

"I was pleased with him," Bellecomo said of Jarrell. "I thought he made some nice throws, put together some nice long drives for us, and he had a lot of moxie tonight."