Lake Zurich pulls off upset of Glenbard W.
Under difficult circumstances, Lake Zurich's football team almost made it look easy.
With a perfect game plan and near-flawless execution, the Bears sent another jolt into the Class 7A bracket with Saturday's 10-3 upset win over top-seeded and previously-unbeaten Glenbard West in Glen Ellyn.
Eighth-seeded Lake Zurich (8-2) played without standout quarterback Zach Till because of a broken left foot and sprained ankle, but the Bears leaned on their defense and punter Mark Weber to dominate field position.
Despite managing only 4 first downs for the game and 31 second-half yards against the Hilltoppers' stout defense, the Bears made a 10-3 halftime lead hold up. They advance to the quarterfinals for the fifth time in six years to play at home against No. 4 Elk Grove (10-1), a 39-22 winner over Harlem.
“All phases of the game — special teams, defense, offense — we just came out here and put it together,” said Bears quarterback Steve Kuhn. “It was a great outcome. We knew it'd be a tough game but we worked our butts off.”
Lake Zurich had 2 first downs in each half. All four were critical.
The first was Mike Shield's gashing 15-yard run up the middle for a touchdown in the final seconds of the first quarter. It was the only play of the drive after a short punt and personal foul against the Hilltoppers (10-1) set up the Bears at the 15.
The second first down came out of the Wildcat with John Orlando at quarterback. He went around the edge for a 66-yard run. leading to Mike Leiva's 23-yard field goal and a 10-3 lead in the final seconds of the half.
Lake Zurich's last two first downs didn't arrive the game's final drive, but they helped run out the clock and seal the win.
“Uncharacteristic of us to give up two big plays, but Lake Zurich does a nice job,” said Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet. “They're well-coached, their kids play tough. They came down here and played in a tough element, and did exactly what they had to do to win the football game.”
Glenbard West edged into the red zone only once, resulting in a 30-yard field goal by Dan Cavazos to narrow the gap to 7-3 in the second quarter. Only two other possessions did the Hilltoppers cross midfield.
The Hilltoppers reached the Bears' 40-yard line on their opening drive. Glenbard West then made it past midfield on its final possession when failing to convert on a fourth-and-14 and giving the Bears the ball at their own 48.
Glenbard West's 8 penalties for 70 yards, compared to just one 10-yarder for Lake Zurich, didn't help the Hilltoppers.
“It's just game-planning,” said Bears linebacker Jack Lynn. “Our scout team on offense gave us good looks all week, and we were ready.”
Hilltoppers quarterback Justice Odom ran for 66 yards while completing 9 of 20 passes for 117 yards. Orlando finished with 89 rushing yards as 81 of the Bears' 144 total yards came on two plays.
Weber averaged 38.6 yards on his 8 punts, pinning the Hilltoppers inside their 20-yard line four times.
“We've gone through some adversity all year long,” said Lake Zurich coach Bryan Stortz. “They just keep becoming tighter and tighter as a group, and they've responded real well to the challenge in front of them.”