Grayslake N. handles Mendota
A historic victory, which moved it within one of being playoff-eligible for the first time, included school records for an interception return and single-game rushing yards. And yet what might have been most noteworthy about Grayslake North’s 34-0 win over nonconference-visitor Mendota on Friday night was the mood of winning coach Steve Wood.
Wood told his players that he was more proud of them after their 31-0 loss to Prairie Ridge last week. To say he “wasn’t happy, was, in his words, “an understatement.
Playing again without sophomore quarterback A.J. Fish and sophomore running back David Collins, who were sidelined for the second straight week with concussions, Grayslake North scored 3 touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The late barrage allowed the Knights to pull away and improve to 4-3, while dropping Mendota to the same record and snapping the Trojans’ four-game winning streak.
“We got to score 20 points in the fourth quarter against a team half our size, Wood said after his fifth-year Knights set the school record for wins. “We score again at the end (with 39 seconds left). I know we’re trying to get our kid (Kurtis Boyd) the rushing record, but it’s bush. We shouldn’t have scored. Their coach is (upset), and he has a right to be.
Boyd rushed 19 times for 205 yards, breaking Glenn Mizowek’s old school mark. Boyd busted off TD runs of 45 and 46 yards in the fourth, after the Knights were up 21-0.
Wood was disappointed with an offense that fumbled the ball away twice and led only 14-0 at half. Andrew Soulis and Boyd scored on runs of 25 and 3 yards, respectively, in the opening two quarters.
Grayslake North’s defense did please Wood.
The Knights allowed only 1 first down in the first half and only 89 yards total for the game.
With Mendota on the Knights 5 and trailing only 14-0 in the fourth, Connor Morita intercepted a pass in the end zone.
Morita raced a school-record 101 yards for an exhausting TD sprint by the 5-foot-8 linebacker.
“It was all surreal, Morita said. “I can’t believe I made it that far. That was probably the longest I’ve ever run. I’m sick, too.
Nose tackle Steve Sass dominated for Grayslake North, registering 5 tackles for loss. Defensive end David Anderson was also a presence and recovered a fumble.
“Our defense played amazing, Sass said. “Our goal was to have a shutout and keep them under 100 yards. I don’t think we’ve ever done that before.
“We’ve played great defense all year, Wood said.
The Knights didn’t play a great game, however. They know they need to play better if they’re going to beat Grayslake Central next week.
“It was a great win, Morita said. “But we got to pick it up for Central and Johnsburg.