Stevenson runs by Zion-Benton
On a saturated field, the Stevenson offensive line let the Patriots' running backs make it look easy Friday night.
Stevenson (6-0, 4-0 North Suburban Lake) gained 383 yards on the ground in a 35-7 rout of Zion Benton (1-5, 0-3 NSC Lake).
Stevenson wore the Zee-Bees' defense down early, first working over the interior defense by giving the ball to fullback Mark Weisman on a series of dives and interior runs in the first possession, a 70-yard, 11-play drive that gave the Pats a 7-0 lead. By Stevenson's third possession, the holes created by Patriot linemen Tom McGovern, David Woodstein, Justin Fauntleroy and Andrew Kordek were enormous. When senior Matt Harris scored the third touchdown of the game, there was not a Zee-Bees defender within 10 yards of him.
"They made it real easy for me," said Harris, the Pats' second-leading rusher Friday night with 146 yards on 13 carries.
Weisman led the Patriots with 165 yards on 27 carries.
Zion-Benton managed to move the ball a little in the first half, and scored on a flea-flicker in the second quarter. Senior wideout Dylan Fout took a handoff from running back Michael Brasswell on a reverse play, and then stepped up in the pocket to throw a deep ball to Lucas Hebenway, who was open in the middle of the field. Hebenway ran into the end zone to complete a 69-yard pass play and pull the Zee-Bees within 14 at half.
"We made some mistakes and I was not happy with that," Stevenson coach Bill Mitz said. "I also felt at times that our focus wasn't there, so I scolded them at halftime."
The Pats ended up pooch kicking the second half kickoff and recovering the ball at the Zion-Benton 27. That set up a 13-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Earl to Joe Cassata.
Stevenson's defense slammed the door on Zion-Benton in the second half, allowing only three first downs, minus-2 rushing yards and 39 total second half yards. The Zee-Bees mustered 207 yards in the first half.
Late in the game, news of Lake Zurich's win over Warren was announced by the public address announcer. The result gives Stevenson a little more room at the top of the NSC Lake standings. Mitz acknowledged he heard the score, but then quickly dismissed the importance of it.
"We only worry about ourselves," he said.