Stolzenburg stars again for St. Charles North
Although it is early in the season, a pattern is developing in St. Charles North football games.
The North Stars will play tenacious defense and senior wide receiver Jeff Stolzenburg will make a spectacular play that changes the game.
After McHenry converted a turnover deep in North Stars' territory to cut the lead to one score just before the half, Stolzenburg went up over a Warriors defender and used one hand to tip the ball to himself which he was then able to control. The defender lost his footing and Stolzenburg was able to stroll into the end zone for a 40-yard TD reception that pushed the lead back to two scores in their 34-13 victory.
"Stolzenburg's catch really sort of gave us that cushion back.," said St. Charles North coach Mark Gould. "That was a heck of a catch, I don't think I ever seen one quite like that."
"That one got the sideline excited," said Stolzenburg.
When St. Charles North took the second-half kickoff and went on a 9-play drive that culminated in a 3-yard TD run by Ben Hodges the game was just about out of reach.
"That drive was really a statement drive, we could not stop them on that drive," said McHenry coach Tim Beagle.
The defense did its part causing four turnovers, including an interception by Ben Dvorak late in the third quarter that Dvorak returned to the McHenry (0-2) 1-yard line. Matt Shiltz, who started the second half at quarterback after Jake Bergren directed the offense for the entire first half, punched it in for the North Stars (2-0) final score.
The North Stars played three different quarterbacks, Connor McShane being the third. All three had success.
"I told them we wanted to see them all for the first two games," said Gould. "I saw some things I like from all of them and things they need to work on. We'll talk about it as a coaching staff, maybe we'll play them all again next week."
McHenry ran a wide open spread offense all night and quarterback Thomas Rose put the ball in the air 43 times but did get picked off three times. Justin Miller and Connor Mohs both had interceptions and Mohs also blew up a McHenry receiver over the middle causing a fumble that Dan Lynch recovered.
"We watched a lot of film last week on what they do and what their formations are and we were ready for anything and we jumped on them," said Mohs.
St. Charles North moved to 2-0 for the first time.
"It's big deal to us to be a part of history," said Stolzenburg
"McHenry puts a lot of pressure on you but I thought our kids answered the challenge real well," said Gould. "I'm very happy with the defensive effort, we were flying to the ball and we were very physical."