Buffalo Grove comes up short in opener
Mundelein's football team was at its best when it mattered most.
Despite difficult practice conditions and a soggy field, the host Mustangs hung on to win Saturday's rescheduled season opener 16-13 over Buffalo Grove.
"The field conditions didn't help us. You have these big lumbering kids and they're slipping and can't get good traction," said Mundelein coach Dave Whitson. "We made the stops when we needed to make the stops. Offensively, we need to turn it up a little bit."
All of Mundelein's scoring came before halftime.
Down in the first quarter, the Mustangs worked a short 29-yard drive that ended with Cody Gokan's 1-yard trot and Bobby Burnick's extra point, which tied the game at 7-7.
A 25-yard quarterback keeper by Mike Petlak put the hosts up 14-7 in the second quarter. A few minutes later, the Mustangs had a lucky break when a missed hike on a Bison punt attempt went into the end zone for a safety to make it 16-7.
The Mustangs weren't always on luck's good side.
Twice, Jamal Ross (44 yards rushing) had long runs to the end zone that were negated by penalties.
"I wasn't real happy with the way we played offensively," Whitson said. "We have a lot of things we have to improve on. I was happy with the way our defense played -- especially our linebackers. They seemed to make a difference. They're very athletic and they can fly around out there."
This Bison had their own stampede, and this one counted.
In the first play of BG's second possession, Josh Hampton (104 yards rushing) exploded for 79 yards and a touchdown as the Bison took an early 7-0 lead.
Unfortunately, that was Buffalo Grove's only trip into the end zone.
"(We) weren't ready to play from the get-go in the first half," said Buffalo Grove coach Rich Roberts. "I believe a lot of that has to do with inexperience that we have, and the confidence factor. We have a lot of kids out there (in) their first varsity football game."
The Bison defense held tight in the second half, keeping the Mustangs off the scoreboard. At the same time, BG was moving the football and got within field goal range several times.
Kurt Krause made good on 2 of 3 field goal attempts in the second half.
"Our kids got there. The positive side of it was the defense definitely screwed it down in the second half and gave our offense opportunities," Roberts said. "I think the game was decided in essence in the first half. They controlled the football and our defense was on the field a lot. Our defense did a good job, but offensively we've got some work (to do)."
Dan Katz ran for 56 yards for the Mustangs.
"I think our kids found out where they're at and what they need to do," Whitson said.