Libertyville extends cycle of winning
All week long, Libertyville quarterback Jack Deichl was a bit under the weather. He decided he needed an extra gear in order to get his game ready for homecoming.
Deichl used an exercise bike for some extra workout time off the field.
Smooth move.
At game time, Deichl and his team put the pedal to the metal. The QB went 15-for-15 passing for 167 yards and 1 TD, and Wildcats running back Brian Swift (7 carries, 156 yards) rushed for 5 TDs — all in the first half — as Libertyville rolled past visiting Mundelein 40-8 in a North Suburban Lake Division game on Friday night.
“I was kind of sick all week,” said Deichl about peddling on the sidelines. “When I stopped moving, my head was kind of sore a bit and I was starting to get a headache.
“We’ll see if we bring it out again.”
Deichl distributed credit to offensive line and receivers for the team’s effectiveness. He also admitted his own learning curve has improved as a result of more varsity experience.
“The line did a great job and some of my first reads weren’t there,” Deichl said. “When stuff breaks down, the receivers had the presence of mind to get open downfield. I was just able to find them.
“Last year as a junior, I was a little giddy in the pocket. I was a little quick to get out. I think it comes with experience and having confidence in your line. You just know that your receivers will eventually get open.”
Deichl hooked up with Charlie Payant on a 17-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter.
Swift’s touchdown runs were from 2, 5, 11, 15 and 78 yards.
“The passing set up the running,” Swift said. “Jack does a great job hitting the receivers. It gets people out of the box and opens up the running game.”
Libertyville (4-1, 2-1) had no trouble dealing with the usual homecoming distractions against Mundelein (0-5, 0-3).
“The kids came out and did business,” Libertyville coach Mike Jones said. “They knew that they had a job to accomplish and they went about it. We talked enough about it all week. We needed to keep our focus.
“Our focus keeps getting better in practice, so when we get on the field we can find our consistency.”
The Mustangs found their way into the end zone in the fourth quarter. Jared Prejna blocked a punt, and Josh Aranda returned it 25 yards with 4:35 left.
“The kids came hard like they’re suppose to on the left side,” Mundelein coach George Kaider said. “It’s something we did in practice and got after it. It shows the kids didn’t quit.”