Ormseth leads Crystal Lake South past Grant

Crystal Lake South's huge offensive line is the real, but the player who wheels and deals is the Gators' quarterback, who's shorter than his listed 5 feet 11.

"Five-ten," revealed Drew Ormseth, smiling.

Ormseth's third season as the varsity's starting QB got off to a big start - after a slow start by his team - as he rallied visiting Crystal Lake South to a 41-12 win over upset-minded Grant in a nonconference season opener in Fox Lake on Friday night.

Ormseth's effort helped make it a successful debut for former defensive coordinator Chuck Ahsmann as the Gators' head coach.

"It's outstanding," said Ahsmann, who's in his 27th year of coaching but first as a head coach. "This is the most nervous I've been in probably 15 years. It was actually a good feeling."

Ormseth rushed for 163 yards on just 6 carries. It was his ad-libbed 64-yard run that pulled Crystal Lake South even after Grant had basically controlled the first quarter and a half.

"He's fast and quick," Grant defensive end David Gahgan said. "He got the outside and we just couldn't stop him."