Wheeling 35, Hersey 5
Skilled position players always like to make their offensive linemen happy.
Junior James Kurtz sure did his part for Wheeling's frontline players Friday night, hauling in 4 long touchdown passes from classmate Matt Holmes to help lead the Wildcats to a 35-5 victory at Hersey.
"He (Kurtz) just puts a smile on my face," said Wheeling senior lineman Justin Arvidson, who along with MJ Schuetz, Tim Schalz, Christian Romo and Peter Rothbart helped pave the way for 420 yards.
"When he gets the ball in his hands, I know it's going to turn out great."
Holmes (6-for-11, 216 yards) and Kurtz looked great on the game's first offensive play, hooking up for a 72-yard TD strike. They later added 39, 31 and 42-yard TD plays.
A 44-yard run by Abel Rangel (8 carries, 105 yards) accounted for the rest of Wheeling's points as it improved to 5-3 and into a tie atop the Mid-Suburban East with Buffalo Grove and Rolling Meadows at 3-1.
"Their offensive line did a great job pass protecting," said Hersey coach Mark Gunther. "We didn't get much pressure on their quarterback.
"They are physical. They have a lot of good athletes and their defense stood when it had to. They're for real."
It was another real tough night for the Huskies on the injury front.
Starting quarterback Steve Nelson left the game with 1:31 with first half. Gunther said the sophomore suffered a broken collarbone.
Backup Scott Kinsel was sacked on a roughing the passer call with 6:42 left in third quarter.
According to Gunther, the senior was taken to Northwest Community Hospital for precautionary reasons (pain in his neck).
Wheeling coach Dave Dunbar said because Michael Zimmer led with his head on the penalty, the Wildcats junior defensive back was ejected from the contest.
Hersey (0-8, 0-4) third-string QB Kevin Siwik ended up completing 6-of-17 passes for 73 yards and Pat Crost rushed for 49 yards.
"I thought Pat ran like a warrior," Gunther said. "He made some great runs. And I thought the world of Kevin in that situation. He stepped in to some tough circumstances and did a nice job."
A 28-field goal by Mike Karpierz and a safety for intentional grounding accounted for Hersey's points.
"This has been our story all season," Gunther said. "Giving up big plays and injuries. I have never seen a team endure more injuries and have other kids step up. We've been going down to third- and fourth-stringers.
"I'm so proud of the kids. It's hard to explain. There is no give-up. It's football and these kids are made of character."
Rangel's TD burst with 10:52 left in the game capped a 97-yard drive which started after the Wildcats' defense recovered a fumble at the 3.
Rothbart, Danny Vargas and Shainn Gill were among the Wildcats who had sacks.
"We were just focused," Arvidson said. "We knew we had to get the job done."