Fremd 10, Prospect 0

Fremd running bank Mike Gyetvay is known as "the Jet."

The nickname is more a play on words on the junior's surname rather than an indication of his foot speed, but Friday night against visiting Prospect, Gyetvay's rugged running style was just what the Vikings needed.

After carrying the ball only 3 times in the first half, Gyetvay rushed 14 times for 50 bruising yards in the second half to key two long Fremd drives in a 10-0 Mid-Suburban League crossover victory at Hale Hildebrandt Field in Palatine.

The Fremd (2-0) defense was outstanding as well. The Vikings held the Knights (1-1) to 165 200 yards of offense and made a couple of critical fourth down stops to thwart drives.

"We didn't take them lightly," said Fremd senior linebacker Kevin Krieter. "We knew they'd come to play. They're a well-disciplined team and they're well-coached."

"We expected a good game," said Prospect coach Brent Pearlman, "and that's what we got. At times we had spurts where we were able to move the ball, but then we had spurts where we didn't move it at all."

It was Prospect on the attack in the third quarter as it drove to the Fremd 31.

But the Vikings held when Krieter and junior linebacker Jonathon Diegel tackled Prospect quarterback Al Lazarz in the backfield on fourth-and-4.

"They were driving," said Krieter, "and we knew we had to stop them. We blitzed and they couldn't pick all of us up."

"If we had made a first down there," Pearlman added, "it might have been a different ball game."

Fremd took over on downs and behind the bruising running of Gyetvay, promptly went on a 14-play drive that culminated in a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mark Tolzien (15-for-19, 138 yards) to Mike Koeneman (5 catches, 58 yards).

"I'm more of a power runner," said Gyetvay. "I try to get 4 yards every time I run, and that's what I did today."

"The coaches tell me to go up the middle and be a truck."

After Prospect went three-and-out on its next possession, Fremd drove 12 plays to the Knights' 22, where a 39-yard field goal attempt by Mark Bappert floated just over the crossbar with 2:12 left to seal the win.

"After we broke the 0-0 tie and scored," said Gyetvay, "I knew we had the game won -- that's how well our defense was playing."