Time will tell for Lake Zurich's Till

Lake Zurich won its 18th state-playoff game since 2006 on Saturday, defeating host Glenbard West 10-3.

While defense was again the story for the Bears, it was the first time they won in the postseason without their starting quarterback.

Steven Kuhn replaced Zach Till, who suffered a broken left foot and sprained ankle late in the fourth quarter of Lake Zurich's playoff-opening win over Geneva.

On Wednesday, Till received medical clearance to practice. He did light running Wednesday and Thursday, but said he reaggravated the injury Thursday.

It was then that the senior said he knew he would not play against Glenbard West.

"We just knew it wasn't getting better, not good enough to play," said Till, who scored 4 touchdowns against Geneva, after rushing for a school-record 5 the previous week against Zion-Benton.

He watched Saturday's game on crutches.

"I was going crazy on the sideline," Till said. "(Glenbard West's) defense played amazing. Our defense played amazing."

Lake Zurich plays in the quarterfinals for the fifth time in six years when it takes on Elk Grove next.

"I'm going to try (to play)," Till said.