Grant 14, North Chicago 7

It's fair to say that it was an historical Friday night at Grant High School.

Before the game, the Bulldogs paid tribute to 90-year old Virgil Grand, a two-way player on the 1935 football team that happened to be the first undefeated team in school history.

The 2007 Bulldogs then paid everyone the ultimate tribute in keeping their undefeated record intact with a 14-7 victory over North Chicago. The win gave Grant (8-0, 6-0 in the Prairie) its first undefeated season in the North Suburban Prairie along with the outright Prairie title.

"It feels good right now -- it hasn't really sunk in yet. It's really exciting," said both Grant quarterback Pavel Zurkowski.

With the score tied at 7-7 in the third quarter and North Chicago on the move at their 47, Warhawks quarterback Deshawn Chambliss pitched behind Andre Thomas. Savage then scooped it up and raced the other way for what turned out to be the winning score.

"We had our best game of the year," said Grant linebacker Kevin Savage, referring to a Bulldogs defense which limited Chambliss to just 102 yards passing while only allowing North Chicago (3-5, 2-3 in the Prairie) a total of 18 rushing yards.

Bulldogs coach Kurt Rous described how much that defensive touchdown meant in the game.

"It was huge. Just a scoop and score," he said. "We've been pretty lucky with that this year. That was our third one. That won us the game."

Zurkowski (168 yards rushing) got the Bulldogs rolling early, marching the offense down the field on a 17-play, 85-yard drive capped off by an Izzy Rodriguez 3-yard touchdown run.

"That first drive was monumental. That was a ten-minute drive. Our kids rose to the challenge right out of the gates," said Rous.

North Chicago's Marquis Miller intercepted Zurkowski in the second quarter and raced all the way to the Grant 1. Running back Jimon Hill took it from that same distance two plays later.

"It's an honor to play for this team," said Zurkowski. "Coach Rous is the best coach around."