Incendiary effort powers a Mundelein triumph

Homecoming night at Mundelein had a lot to offer, including unseasonable warmth along with fireworks.

Yet nothing really compared to the self-generated head Mundelein supplied, both on offense and defense.

Mundelein came out sparkling with a 31-6 victory over visiting Waukegan in a North Suburban Conference game on Friday night.

Mustangs quarterback Anthony Norris rushed for 3 touchdowns, Tabor Alemu recovered 2 fumbles and Marc Rey intercepted a pass on defense.

"You've got to feel good anytime you win a football game," said Mundelein coach Larry Calhoun, whose team improved to 2-3 and 1-2. "(Waukegan) had some speed, but we did a good job of bottling them up. We were more effective on offense then we've been, so that's a plus for us.

"I thought our defense has played well and we really haven't helped them out much all year. You can't keep asking them that if you're going to win games in this conference. It was a good win and I hope it's a springboard for more good things to come."

Mundelein took a 10-0 lead in the opening half. Eric Morales hit a 24-yard field goal with 1:54 left in the opening quarter. Then Norris (19 carries, 59 yards) scored the first of 3 rushing touchdowns from 1 yard out with 7:21 left in the second quarter for a 10-0 lead over Waukegan (0-5, 0-3).

Norris scampered into the end zone a second time with 6:05 left in the third quarter from 2 yards out that increased the margin to 17-0. Alemu set up the two-play drive, recovering a fumble at the Bulldogs' 16-yard line.

Waukegan got on the board with 5:03 left in the third, when Jose Deandra Jr. caught a 6-yard TD pass from quarterback Eriberto Soto.

But the Mustangs answered with a pair of fourth-quarter scores. Norris found the end zone on a 3-yard run and Rey took back an interception 37 yards.

"I really owe it to my offensive line," Norris said. "They did a great job - they just opened up spots for me down the field. It was definitely the offensive line."

For Waukegan, it's been a work in progress this season trying to get everything to work together.

"We just have to get out of these self-inflicted wounds," Waukegan coach Jonathan Hadnott said. "All the things that we did out here tells the story. We're trying to rebuild the program. We had mental errors and easy things that makes things difficult. We need to make a better job of that."