Precision effort for Lake Zurich
Visiting Lake Zurich seemed like one big, blue machine Friday night in its North Suburban Conference crossover football game at North Chicago.
The No. 7-ranked Bears scored early and often against the Warhawks as they built a commanding 30-0 halftime lead en route to an impressive 36-0 victory over outmatched North Chicago.
An interception by Lake Zurich's Tim Sayre on North Chicago's opening possession set up the Bears' first score as a 10-yard TD run by Jacob Brinlee capped a three-play, 26-yard drive. The first of 4 first-half extra points by Mike Leiva gave Lake Zurich (3-0) a 7-0 lead just 4:25 into the game.
The Warhawks (0-3) had very little running room or time for quarterback Abel Williams in the first half as Mark Tabaka recovered Dariusz Allen's fumble at the North Chicago 8-yard-line with 4:04 left in the first quarter.
On the next play, Mike Shield scored on an 8-yard run after being in motion from left to right to make the score 14-0 with 3:59 left in the first quarter.
Lake Zurich's next possession also wound up finishing in the end zone as junior quarterback Zach Till hit Brinlee with a 22-yard TD pass coming out of the backfield before the extra point boosted the lead to 21-0 six seconds into the second quarter.
The offensive assault by the Bears continued on their next possession as a 1-yard TD run by senior John Mularz capped a 46-yard scoring drive for a 28-0 advantage 5:58 before the intermission.
Then came another key miscue by the Warhawks' offense as Williams (-20 yards rushing) was flushed out of the pocket all the way from his own 15-yard-line before being tackled in his own end zone for a safety and a 30-0 deficit with 5:19 left in the first half.
After taking the 30-point lead, the Bears were using mostly reserve players for the remainder of the contest as Luis Corral missed a 27-yard field goal attempt 2:19 before the break.
"It wasn't different than any other week, just respect the opponent and do what you have been practicing all week," said Brinlee, who rushed for 28 yards on 4 carries. "We did a little more shotgun tonight than we normally do, and our offensive line did a good job."
After a quick and scoreless third quarter, Lake Zurich got on the scoreboard again with 2:33 to play as junior Brandon Markert scored on a 1-yard TD run off right tackle to account for the final 36-0 score.
Till was 3-for-5 passing for 49 yards while Markert added 39 yards rushing on 7 carries. North Chicago had -36 yards rushing and 42 yards passing for a net total of 6 yards on offense. The Bears had 153 yards on the ground and 58 through the air for 211 yards total.
"We struggled in the first two weeks to get out to quick starts and that was the whole focus this week," said Lake Zurich coach Bryan Stortz, whose team recovered 3 fumbles. "For the most part the offense got better from previous weeks. We were very efficient, and Zach (Till) did a good job."
Junior Chris Rantis also had a first-quarter interception for the Bears as Williams struggled through a 1-for-7 passing night for 11 yards and 2 interceptions.