Cougars close deal on Elk Grove

Conant was looking for a little payback after two close losses and was able to cash in on Friday, but it wasn't easy.

Senior quarterback Sean Smith directed Conant on a time-consuming 50-yard scoring drive to open the third quarter and the defense shutout out host Elk Grove in the second half of a 20-13 Mid Suburban League crossover football victory at Robert Haskell Stadium.

"They (Elk Grove) played hard and they didn't make it easy for us," said Conant coach Bill Modelski, "But we'll take the win."

Conant (2-2) had a chance to go into halftime with the lead but was stranded on Elk Grove's 1 as time expired with the score knotted at 13-13.

Conant took control of the ball at the 50 to start the second half and Smith promptly marched his team down the field, culminated by Otto Linderman's 1-yard scoring plunge for a 20-13 lead.

"We came out fired up, with an attitude," said Smith whose team converted on two fourth-down plays to keep the drive alive. "We wanted to run with an attitude and drive it down the field."

The defense then took over, and although they bent against the Grenadiers and sophomore quarterback Nick Meyer (10-for-18, 108 yards) they never broke.

Defensive lineman Jake Prestia's interception with 4:38 remaining halted one drive, and defensive back Mitch Comstock broke up fourth-down pass to stop another drive.

"We wanted to fight hard and have 11 guys going to the ball," said Prestia, who also had a tackle for a loss in the second half. "We just played and did what we're supposed to do."

Smith (21 carries, 57 yards) scored on a 4 yard run to give Conant a 6-0 lead, but Joshua Anderson (17 carries, 77 yards) answered with a 28-yard scoring run to tie the game at 6-6 in the opening quarter.

Kendall Lane (14 carries, 128 yards) closed out the first quarter with an electrifying 66-yard touchdown run pushing Conant to a 13-6 advantage.

Elk Grove (1-3), behind its offensive line, took control of the second quarter with Meyer scoring on a 4-yard bootleg to tie the score at 13-13.

Meyer and the Grens had one final shot in the waning seconds but Mark Kosrow's interception sealed the Cougars victory.

"They (Conant) made some plays," said Elk Grove coach Tom Whalen. "But we made some plays too. It was a good high school game and this is what it should be about."