Wolves leave Grayslake N. no option
There was nothing fancy about Prairie Ridge's option offense Friday night, but the Wolves really got great results in their Fox Valley Conference football game at Grayslake North.
With Prairie Ridge senior quarterback Bryan Bradshaw running the option almost to perfection, the Wolves built a commanding 49-7 halftime lead before posting a 62-17 FVC Fox Division victory over the Knights.
After Grayslake North quarterback Sean Brennan was intercepted by Prairie Ridge's Kyle Peterson on the opening drive, the Wolves got on the scoreboard first when Kevin Keener reached the end zone on a 1-yard plunge. The first of many extra points by Craig Greenwald made the score 7-0.
Prairie Ridge (5-2, 3-0) went ahead 14-0 on another 1-yard plunge by Keener with 1:34 left in the first quarter before Grayslake North's Drew Doering's big kickoff return gave the Knights good field position at the Wolves' 42-yard-line.
But Grayslake North (0-7, 0-3) was unable to move the ball and Prairie Ridge's Todd Budy scored on an 11-yard TD run for a 21-0 advantage.
A fumble recovery by Owen Dougal set up the Wolves' next TD as Bradshaw hit Steve Drain in the right corner of the end zone for a 28-0 lead with 7:40 left in the first half.
The Knights did show some signs of a potential comeback just 17 seconds later as Brennan hit Brandon Schroth on a quick slant pattern before Schroth raced 73 yards for the score. The extra point by Matt Robinson cut the gap to 28-7.
Prairie Ridge continued to roll offensively as Keener added a 2-yard TD run and Bradshaw a 9-yard TD run for a 42-7 lead.
Then after a fourth-down Knights pass was dropped, Keener would score on a 3-yard run to cap a quick 35-yard drive 27 seconds before the half.
Bradshaw was 7-for-11 for 143 yards in just one half of action as teammate Justin Henderson hauled in 5 of those passes.
"They're really good and (coach) Chris (Schremp) has done a great job," said Grayslake North coach Steve Wood. "We moved the ball, but they're just that much better than us right now."
With a running clock in the second half, the Wolves led 55-7 before a 28-yard field goal by Robinson early in the fourth quarter.
Tim Deering had two short TD runs for the Wolves in the second half before Robinson caught a 35-yard TD pass from Seth Foster to close out the scoring with 4:46 to play.
"I think our kids were really focused on getting better and we showed it tonight," Schremp said. "We just take what the defense gives us and we had some nice pass protection."
Budy had 93 yards rushing on 9 carries while Keener had 92 yards on 13 attempts. Glenn Mizowek led the Knights with 64 yards on 14 carries while Brennan threw for 124 yards.