Neuqua Valley 21, Lake Park 0
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
A Neuqua Valley defender pulls down Lake Park's Kevin Thomas on Friday in Naperville.
Neuqua Valley tailback Anton Wilkins needs but a sliver of space to rip a big run.
When he's got 1,000 pounds of linemen mowing a path it's easier still.
Spinning and bouncing out of tackles or simply following his blockers, Wilkins ran for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns to pace Neuqua Valley's first win this football season, 21-0 over Lake Park in Naperville.
"He did a nice job of picking his way up front and that's what we're looking for him to do," said Wildcats coach Bryan Wells.
Winning its 19th straight Upstate Eight Conference game, Neuqua Valley (1-2, 1-0) got all the points necessary on its first possession.
Nearly losing a fumble on its fourth play, Neuqua regrouped on the fifth. Wilkins followed right tackle Jeff Radek then broke a tackle at the 10-yard line to find the end zone on a 30-yard run.
"It definitely set the tempo for the game, set the tone, and it just helped us have confidence in ourselves when we come out on the field (and score) on the first drive," said Wilkins, who ran 29 times.
Lake Park (1-2, 0-1) did things that teams with only five returning starters do.
Like committing a penalty to negate Kevin Thomas' potential tying score, a 41-yard run, in the second quarter.
Or three other Lancers penalties that awarded Neuqua Valley fresh first downs on its second scoring drive.
Wilkins capitalized on a 2-yard touchdown run that with Nick Schneider's kick made it 14-0 at halftime.
"As the games go on, as long as we can hang in there and win a couple of these, we'll be OK come the end," said Lake Park coach Andy Livingston, crediting the effort of sophomore quarterback Larry Nawrot and his teammates.
Lake Park's Ryan Gerts, Will Kalish and Nick Wiley played solid defense, but Neuqua enjoyed early second-half field position to convert a 35-yard drive.
Alex Lincoln's 11-yard pass to Wilkins set up the 190-pound back's 1-yard touchdown run, again to Radek's side, for the 21-0 lead.
"I was really kind of surprised at myself," Wilkins said. "There were some holes that I did not think I could jump through, and I did."
Then there were chasms created by Northwestern-bound Radek -- in his season debut after a two-game suspension for violating team rules -- David Bollweg, Scott Doering, Chris Dawson and center Mike Heitkamp.
"Our whole line did great overall," Radek said. "We also couldn't have done it without the defense. And our whole team, I believe, came together to get this win."