Rolling Meadows 28, Elk Grove 19
Rolling Meadows was worried about a letdown at Elk Grove on Friday night after last week's emotional victory over Prospect.
The Grenadiers, meanwhile, were fired up to play the state's top-ranked Class 7A team after breaking a 15-game losing streak.
And when Elk Grove running back Jake Meyer took a pitchout from quarterback Bryan Bathauer and raced 3 yards into the end zone with three minutes left in the second quarter, the game was tied.
"We weren't really fearing a letdown," said Meadows receiver Stan Pheteau. "We just didn't want them to capitalize on our mistakes, which you're going to have in a game."
A late Meadows (7-0, 3-0) first-half touchdown helped the Mustangs recover and grind out a methodical 28-19 Mid-Suburban East victory over the upset-minded Grens (1-6, 1-2).
"We had a tough week of practice after the Prospect game," said Pheteau, who caught 5 passes for 72 yards and 2 touchdowns. "A lot of guys were out, and we all had to step it up a notch."
The first of Pheteau's touchdown catches and a 16-yard touchdown run by junior Daquan Edwards (129 yards rushing) put Meadows up 14-7 at halftime.
Meadows senior running back-linebacker Mikal Johnson did not play.
Phetau's 7-yard touchdown grab of a Ben Sabal pass and a 15-yard scoring run by Trevor Fritz gave Meadows a 28-7 lead in the fourth, but Elk Grove wasn't finished.
Scoring runs of 54 and 3 yards by Bathauer brought the Grens closer, but behind the running of Edwards and a key late 17-yard reception by Pheteau, Meadows was able to run out the clock.
Sabal finished 10-for-15 for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns.
"It's tough to win on the road," said Meadows linebacker Thomas Davidson. "Everyone who plays against a No. 1 team wants to have their best game of the year.
"We played assignment football on defense, and our offensive line got a great push. We had some struggles, but we overcame them. We got the win and that's what counts."
Bathauer finished with 133 yards on 21 carries.
"We knew coming in they're a great defensive team," said Bathauer. "They gave us some opportunities, but we couldn't capitalize on them."