Wauconda waits out a win
Host Wauconda had to wait out two lightning delays before starting its North Sububan Conference football game Friday night against North Chicago, but the Bulldogs made the best of a bad situation.
A 37-yard run by senior quarterback Garrett Dorsey on a fake punt led to an 11-yard TD run by Sean Lichterman for an early 7-0 Wauconda lead before the Bulldogs took a 21-6 advantage into halftime in this Prairie Division season-ending battle.
From there Wauconda (4-5, 3-3) stuck mainly to a consistent ground attack in a steady rainstorm as the Bulldogs would capture a 41-20 victory to end the 2008 campaign on a high note.
Leading 7-0, an alert Kevin Jones scored the Bulldogs' second touchdown as Jones scooped up a fumble by Jeremy Johnson before racing 80 yards just 55 seconds into the second quarter. The extra point by Michael Mrohen gave Wauconda a 14-0 lead.
The Bulldogs' next scoring drive went 45 yards with senior quarterback Garrett Dorsey running left on a bootleg play for a 28-yard TD run and a 21-0 lead 4:40 before intermission.
North Chicago (2-7, 1-5) answered that score when quarterback Deshawn Chambliss hit Blake Collins with a 7-yard TD pass in the left corner of the end zone to cut the lead to 21-6 with 1:52 remaining in the first half.
A clipping penalty called back a Warhawks' touchdown early in the third quarter. Then a bad snap would result in the Bulldogs taking over on the North Chicago 6-yard-line.
One play later, Lichterman (169 yards on 34 carries) scored on a 6-yard run to give Wauconda a 28-6 lead with 9:01 left in the third quarter.
"Unfortunately we didn't make it to the playoffs, but it was a nice game to end on for our senior year," said Lichterman. "Our offense worked together and the blocking made my job easy tonight."
An 85-yard kickoff return by North Chicago's Cameron Scott cut the lead to 28-12 with 8:48 left in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs regained a 34-12 lead when Dorsey scored on a fourth-down play with 8:53 to play.
Senior Ted Litberg added a 5-yard TD run to close out the Bulldogs' scoring with 6:50 to play.
"It's always nice to end the season with a win," said Wauconda coach Glen Kozlowski. "We didn't get out here to start the game until late, but I'm proud of the seniors."
Jimon Hill led the Warhawks with 86 yards rushing on 12 carries in the slippery playing conditions while Dorsey had 70 yards on 11 rushes for Wauconda.