Vernon Hills, 27, N. Chicago 26

Wild finishes to football games are commonplace for Vernon Hills this season. In fact, they're becoming routine for coach Tony Monken's squad.

The wild weekly ride continued for the Cougars (4-3, 3-1) in their stirring 27-26 win at North Chicago on Friday. It was their second consecutive 1-point decision and the second time this season that senior quarterback James Hallendorff has led a game-winning drive in relief of starter P.J. Marsek.

The victory brought the Cougars within 1 win of playoff eligibility and left the Warhawks (3-4, 2-2) at a major disadvantage with two games remaining in North Suburban Prairie Division play.

Monken knew the importance of the victory but emphasized his team's need to play every game with the utmost intensity.

"I think all the games are must-win games," Monken said. "I don't want to have to rely on somebody else to have enough playoff points for us to get in. We want to get to 6-3, so we talked about tonight being a playoff game for us."

Vernon Hills broke out to an early lead in the ballgame, going 70 yards on 8 plays on the game's first possession for a short touchdown run by Tyler Mooney. The Cougars scored again four minutes later on a short run by Ryan Michel.

Mooney finished with 110 yards on 15 carries.

North Chicago answered with 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback DeShawn Chambliss and though the Warhawks spent considerable time in Vernon Hills territory in the second quarter, they committed a pair of turnovers and failed to score again before halftime.

But the third quarter belonged to Chambliss and the Warhawks who scored on the junior quarterback's 3-yard run and his 60-yard pass completion to wideout Marquise Miller. Although North Chicago had gained its first lead of the game, kicker Pedro Cardenas hit the crossbar on his extra point attempt and left the Warhawk advantage at 20-14 going into the final period.

The teams traded touchdowns and turnovers in the fourth quarter. Vernon Hills regained the lead on a 5-yard plunge by Marsek but fumbled the ball away twice. North Chicago threw a pair of interceptions but took the lead on a 48-yard bomb from Chambliss to Dominique Young with 2:21 remaining. The point after attempt was unsuccessful so North Chicago had to rely on its defense to preserve a 26-21 lead against reliever Hallendorff and the Cougars offense.

As he did in a Week 3 victory of Lakes, Hallendorff led the offense on a game-winning drive. He completed all 3 of his passes, including a 36-yard strike to freshman phenom DaVaris Daniels who out-jumped a pair of defenders on a dramatic sideline catch at the Warhawk 15-yard line. Three plays later, Hallendorff wrapped up the victory with a quarterback sneak.

Hallendorff said he prepares for his possible late-game insertions by throwing on the sideline and praying, and he was elated to find himself in the end zone at the end of another stressful game for the Cougars.

"It feels awesome," Hallendorff said. "When it's over, it's a relief to get another win like this. It's a lot of pressure taken off."

The Cougars' pressure cooker will continue to heat up next week with another crucial divisional game at Antioch.