Football roundup: Stevenson, Elk Grove, Lakes, Carmel each collect third win of season

As the season winds down, four area teams clinched a spot in the state playoffs Friday night.

Stevenson, Elk Grove, Lakes and Carmel all punched their tickets to the postseason by picking up their third wins of the season. Meanwhile, Maine West won its second game of the season and will face two-win Vernon Hills next week with the winner headed to the playoffs. Round Lake is also at two wins and needs a win in the final week of the season to claim a spot in new 384-team playoff format.

Stevenson 31, Lake Forest 7: Stevenson (3-5, 3-2) scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes to pull away from Lake Forest. With the game tied at 7-7, Stevenson quarterback Eli Sigal threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Luke Clark. Then, with 16 seconds left in the half, Mlakhai Agee broke off a 77-yard touchdown run as the Patriots began to pull away. Agee later added a three-yard touchdown run. Cole Shein scored earlier on a 16-yard touchdown run for Stevenson. Ryan Tarr booted a 47-yard field goal.

Elk Grove 42, Wheeling 7: Elk Grove (3-5, 1-3) qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2022. The Grenadiers also snapped a five-game losing streak. Wheeling (0-8, 0-4) jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a five-yard run by Alexis Mendoza. The Grens came roaring back to score 42 unanswered. Luke Maher (13-of-18, 187 yards) threw a pair of touchdown passes covering 10 yards to Griffin Ewen and 35 yards to Matt Dimaria. After a Jordan Buford nine-yard touchdown run, Maher threw his third touchdown pass of the day, a 34-yarder to Thano Tromboukis. Christian Hernandez would later add a 33-yard touchdown run, and Eli Woehler had a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Lakes 31, Round Lake 14: Lakes (3-5, 2-4) won its second game in a row and qualified for the playoffs for the second year in a row. Ethan Gialo had touchdown runs of 42 and 47 yards. Gialo also threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Aidan Hack. Evan West led Round Lake (2-6, 0-6) by throwing for 272 yards and two touchdowns, both to Jaquan Jameson.

Carmel 42, De La Salle 0: Carmel (3-6) became playoff eligible. Reed Dangel threw touchdown passes of 56 yards to Tatum Napier and 56 and 14 yards to Kyron Hart. Jaquel Edmonds had touchdown runs of seven and 16 yards. Jameer Miles had a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Maine West 20, Niles West 0: Maine West (2-6) picked up the win thanks to some solid play on both sides of the ball by the Warriors. Eddie Arroyo, who ran for 183 yards on 24 carries, had a touchdown run. Zaire Domino ran for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Maine West allowed Niles West just 22 rushing yards.

Antioch 50, North Chicago 0: Gavin Stone ran for two touchdowns and ran back a kickoff 90 yards, and Logan Lennon ran for two other touchdowns as Antioch (8-0, 6-0) rolled. Stone had 11 carries for 86 yards and scored on runs six and 32 yards while Lennon had six carries for 75 yards and had touchdown runs of eight and 46 yards. Kelen Wilson had a three-yard scoring run. Alan Sakalowski caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Rayyan Grosbier.

Grant 27, Wauconda 25: Grant (6-2, 5-1) upended previously unbeaten Wauconda thanks to a fourth-quarter field goal and a safety on a bad snap on a punt. Chris Urbina tied the game at 25-25 for Grant with a 21-yard field goal with eight minutes to play. Grant took the lead for good when an errant snap sailed out of the end zone with 3:32 to play. Jackson Fudala (18 carries, 93 yards) ran for a touchdown and threw a 36-yard option pass to Michael Potempa for another touchdown. Connor Evans also had a touchdown run for Grant. Wauconda (7-1, 5-1) got a pair of touchdown runs from Brody Rudolph (37 carries, 188 yards). Cooper Karaszewski threw a touchdown pass to Luke Sickmeir, who also had a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Grayslake North 34, Grayslake Central 29: In the battle of Grayslake, North (5-3, 3-3) erased a 15-14 halftime deficit thanks to a trio of touchdowns to lead 34-15. Central (4-4, 3-3) came roaring back to close to 34-29 late in the fourth quarter, but North ran out the clock. Jaylen Newkirk (12-of-19 passing, 212 yards) threw three touchdown passes for North and ran for two others to finish with 93 rushing yards. Will Foley, Ethan Mendez and Brooklyn Washington each caught touchdown passes for the Knights. Central was led by Rayshaun Wright, who had a pair of touchdown runs and rushed for 163 yards. George Flaig also scored on a touchdown run, and Grayson Aliff threw a touchdown pass to Andrew O’Neill.

Fenwick 55, St. Viator 6: Fenwick flew out to a 55-0 halftime lead. St. Viator (1-7) got a second-half touchdown pass.

Glenbrook North 42, Maine East 7: Favour Lewis had a touchdown and 74 yards rushing along with seven tackles on defense for Maine East (0-8).

Zion-Benton 21, Mundelein 12: Mundelein (3-5, 1-5) built a 12-0 lead as Tyler Johnson threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Rejczyk. But the Mustangs could not hold off the Zee-Bees (6-2, 3-1).

Deerfield 30, Vernon Hills 8: Deerfield built a 30-0 lead before Vernon Hills (2-6) scored a late touchdown and two-point conversion.

Warren 42, Waukegan 0: Warren (4-4, 3-2) rolled over Waukegan.