Glenbard North chews up Gators

One hundred fifty yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries - and that was just the first half for Glenbard North running back Tyler Doll.

Doll piled up 208 yards and three scores by the time the game was done Friday night, leading the Panthers to a 34-17 home opener victory over Crystal Lake South. It was a much needed victory after being upset last week at Bartlett.

"We had to win this game," Doll said. "Everyone wanted to get some momentum going into conference."

A big offensive line and strong lead blocking by fullback Jordan Brooks opened up sometimes gaping holes for Doll, and he did the rest. The Panthers worked the ball inside and outside relentlessly.

"We really wore them down," Doll said.

Glenbard North coach Ryan Wilkens wanted to see that sort of dominance after the running game sputtered too often against Bartlett in the season-opening loss.

"We were disappointed when we weren't able to run the ball (last week)," WIlkens said. "We're a run-oriented team, and we knew that was something we needed to work on."

Still, Doll didn't expect to carry the ball nearly 24 times before halftime. "I was pretty shocked," he said.

He shocked the visiting Gators, too, scoring on 10- and 5-yard runs in the first quarter. A 58-yard pass from Evan Watkins to Mike Carev early in the second quarter boosted the lead to 21-0.

Crystal Lake South (1-1), meanwhile, was struggling. They ran just 19 offensive plays in the first half, getting their only score when Mike Frericks intercepted a tipped ball and gave the Gators the ball at the Panthers' 5-yard line. Derek Mortensen ran it twice from there, scoring on a 2-yard dash.

Gators coach Jim Stuglis said that Glenbard North looked hungry after starting the season 0-1.

"They found out they can't look past anybody, and that's the sign of a good team," said Stuglis. "To a man, they're bigger than we are. Their offensive and defensive lines took it to us tonight. The biggest thing we'll take from this is (we) didn't quit. We made it a little bit of a game."

But Doll came back after catching his breath at halftime and scored on a fourth-down play. Watkins did a nice play-action fake and handed off to Doll, who ran in 30 yards for his third touchdown.

A safety and a pass from Drew Ormseth to Alex Macaulay cut the lead to 28-17, but Brandon Salemi intercepted Ormseth on the Gators' next possession and ran it 12 yards into the end zone, ending the threat.

"This felt like a huge win for us," Salemi said. "This week we stepped it up."