Lake Zurich handles Lake Forest

Two teams had their backs against the wall Friday night, trying to keep their playoff hopes alive as the high-powered offense of Lake Forest met the stout and powerful defense of Lake Zurich.

It was a TKO in favor of the Lake Zurich (5-3, 4-2) defense, which ended the playoff hopes of Lake Forest (3-5, 2-3) on Friday night in Lake Zurich 42-14.

Bears running back Jacob Brinlee (9 carries, 110 yards) was the key offensively with 4 touchdowns.

Lake Forest got the ball to start the game, and quarterback Tommy Rees (24 of 42, 258 yards, 1 TD) led the Scouts downfield on a 14 play drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Colburn Trutter.

But the lead did not last long as Brinlee took the ensuing kick off 92 yards up the middle of the field to immediately reclaim momentum.

"Our coaches saw a weakness in their return game up the middle," explained Brinlee. "They kicked it right to me and that's where I went."

Brinlee added touchdown runs of 57 and 21 yards.

"He was patient and stayed after it all night,'" Bears coach Brian Stortz said.

Brinlee also caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Peter Rantis (3 for 4, 105 yards).

"They brought their safeties way up to play the run," said Brinlee, "and I just ran down the middle of the field."

While Brinlee was delivering his usual highlight-reel performance, it was the Bears' defense that stole the show as it Rees to throw 5 interceptions. Two of them were made by Bears defensive back Zach Till.

"We knew everything they were going to do before they did it," Till said. "All we practiced against this week was the pass."

The other interceptions came from Jack Lynn, Danny Minogue and Robby Wilson.

"We mixed it up between two coverages all night," Stortz said. "It had to do with where our safeties were."

With superstar wideout Connor Moutvic missing the rest of the year due to wrist surgery, Rees needed to find a new go-to target. While TJ Jackson (10 catches, 123 yards) stood out, other targets struggled to get open consistently.

Lake Zurich now controls its own fate as it faces Vernon Hills in an NSC crossover next week at home.

"We don't know anything about them," said Brinlee, "but we'll watch tape this week and be ready."