Vernon Hills shuts out Harlan

By halftime, it looked a lot like this time exactly one year ago, when coach Tony Monken thinks the tradition started with his football team.

When Vernon Hills got set for a running-clock second half against visiting Chicago Harlan in the teams' Class 5A state playoff opener Friday night, the helmets of the starters were neatly arranged side by side on a sideline bench. Evan Spencer made sure nary a lid was crooked, nudging one back so it was just right.

It was Spencer who got the Cougars' 51-0 rout going by returning the opening kickoff 85 yards, untouched.

“I'm guessing it was Evan, (E.J.) Lannan and DaVaris (Daniels) last year (that came up with the idea),” Monken said of the helmet display.

Monken counts about six games this season that his team was ahead by a comfortable enough margin at halftime that he could sit his starters the rest of the night, thus commencing the arrangement of the helmets on a bench.

“Evan, (Austin) Miller and DaVaris always do that,” quarterback Chris Argianas said. “It's kind of like (a reminder) to just stay away from the helmets you're done, don't think about getting back in there because we don't want to get you hurt.”

The lopsided win was Vernon Hills' second in as many years against a Chicago Public League school in Round 1, after it beat Brooks 48-0 last season. The Cougars (9-1) will strap on their helmets next week against the winner of today's 5 p.m. game between Orr (8-1) and Tinley Park (6-3).

While the Vernon Hills defense limited Harlan (6-4) to 1 total yard of offense in the first half en route to its eighth shutout, Argianas shined at quarterback. He completed all 5 of his passes for 82 yards, with touchdown passes to Spencer and Marcus Bradford.

All the scoring was done in the first half.

The last two falls, Argianas watched from the stands after giving up football following his freshman year because he was wiped out after playing three sports.

He's been the Cougars' starting QB since Week 4.

“I definitely regret not playing the last two years,” Argianas said. “I've had a great time all year. The guys are great. They welcomed me back. So it's been awesome.”

On the game's opening kickoff, Spencer faked a reverse to Daniels, and Harlan bit.

“We know that DaVaris demands a lot of attention,” Monken said.

Camden Levy recovered Jeremy Cohen's ensuing pooch kick, and four plays later, Tyler Peterson scored from 13 yards out with still 10:12 left in the first quarter. When Argianas hit Spencer on a post across the middle for a 9-yard TD pass, it capped a 9-play, 82-yard drive and stretched the lead to 21-0.

“I actually didn't throw it real well. I threw it behind him,” Argianas said. “He made a great play on the ball.”

Bradford (6 yards), Brian Palmer (15 yards) and Tyler Alper (13 yards) also scored rushing touchdowns. Bradford got behind the Harlan defense and snagged a 37-yard TD pass from Argianas, as well.

Argianas credited offensive linemen Brian Berzanski, Cedric Lyons, Michael Donofrio, Alexander Guletsky and Drake Randall for their pass-protection.

“The line did great this game,” Argianas said. “I wasn't even close to getting touched.”

The game, surprisingly to Monken, was never close.

“We really thought that this would be a battle,” Monken said. “(Harlan) looked really good on film. They lost to Richards only 21-0 at Gately Stadium (in Week 1), so we anticipated that it was going to be a tougher game, especially early. We thought if we took care of the football, we'd pull away at the end.”