Wauconda 30, W. Chicago 19
The additional 15 pounds that Brad Wisniewski carries since last season do not include his beginner beard.
"Just lazy," the scruffy-faced senior running back said.
The more impressive growth?
Wauconda's football program.
Behind Wisniewski's running and a relentless defense, the Bulldogs pulled away from host North Chicago in the second half to claim a 30-19 victory in a North Suburban Conference Prairie Division opener Friday night.
The win makes Wauconda 3-0 for the first time in years.
"We're on the board," said Davis Mills, who caught a momentum-changing touchdown pass late in the third quarter.
"We're coming."
The Bulldogs have come so far. They went winless in Glen Kozlowski's first two seasons as head coach, then finished 1-8 in 2004. After a three-win season two years ago, they won four times last year.
Next Friday, Wauconda seeks a 4-0 start when it faces Antioch and former assistant coach Brian Glashagel, whose Sequoits are 2-1 in his first season as head coach.
"Practices this summer were just like, 'Wow,' " said Wisniewski, who rushed 30 times for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns against North Chicago (1-2).
"We've never been pushed so hard."
Wisniewski's 36-yard TD run in the opening quarter against North Chicago helped Wauconda go into halftime tied 7-7.
Warhawks quarterback Blake Collins lofted a 12-yard pass to Marquise Miller in the corner of the end zone to give the home team the lead, but Wauconda answered on its next possession.
Mills caught a back-side screen pass from quarterback Garrett Dorsey on the left side and turned it into a 53-yard scoring play. Keith Wilson's PAT kick gave the Bulldogs the lead for good.
"We had been pounding away on the right side all game," Kozlowski said.
"Brad (Wisniewski) had been telling Coach Kozlowski all game to run (the play)," said Mills, crediting Tom Hopfauf and Bret Collier for their blocks that helped spring him.
"We work on that play every week."
Wisniewski added a pair of 7-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter, before North Chicago got a late TD when Collins and Miller hooked up on an 86-yard pass.
Wauconda had 5 sacks, including a pair by Collier. Mike Pecka had an interception.
"I just challenged the kids at halftime to have fun," Kozlowski said.