Grayslake Central happily hops to a homecoming victory

Finally, after nearly three years, a football bounced Grayslake Central's way.

It didn't land on the ground, in the hands of the opponent, or on the wrong side of an upright.

Happy bounce. Happy homecoming.

"We got something to go our way," Rams coach Jason Schaal said.

Instead, the tipped ball fell softly into the hands of sophomore defensive lineman Austin Wagner, who took the interception 50 yards to the end zone. Grayslake Central never stopped smiling after the late fourth-quarter touchdown that sealed a 25-15 win over visiting Round Lake on Friday night.

The Northern Lake County Conference victory snapped a 22-game losing streak for Grayslake Central (1-3, 1-1), which hadn't won since it captured a 28-12, Week-8 decision over Woodstock North on Oct. 18, 2013.

Following the homecoming win, Grayslake Central's student fans stormed the field as a Miley Cyrus song blared over the PA system.

"It's been such a long time," senior defensive lineman Cole Adkins said. "This is the best night of my high school life."

The win also marked the first for third-year coach Schaal.

"Not many administrations stick with people who go 0-and-whatever," said an emotional Schaal, choking up. "I can't say thanks enough. ... Parents' support has been tremendous. Mikey Andrews, Zack Cashmore (three-year varsity players). They haven't experienced a win since the last game of their freshman year. They bring a great attitude every day. ... This is for them. This isn't for me."

While Andrews rushed for 2 touchdowns and 96 yards on 22 carries, Grayslake Central had to sweat out the fourth quarter. Alex Larson's 23-yard TD pass to Michael Sedano on fourth-and-5, coupled with Darrius Calhoun's conversion run, cut Round Lake's deficit to 18-15 with 11:02 left.

After Round Lake's defense stopped Grayslake Central, the Panthers moved the ball to the Rams 31. But after a holding penalty and incompletion, Larson dropped back to pass on third-and-17 from the 38. A rushing Adkins tipped the pass, and an alert Wagner plucked the ball out of the air.

Wagner scored with 4:08 left and then booted the PAT kick to make it a 10-point game.

"Adkins tipped it right up and I just looked up and saw the ball flopping around," Wagner said. "I just jumped up, grabbed it and was off to the races."

"Austin and I were charging to the outside," Adkins said.

Round Lake, which beat North Chicago in Week 7 for its only win last season, fell to 0-4 and 0-2 in the NLCC. The Panthers played their second game in a row without quarterback Tabieas Young, who sprained his shoulder against Woodstock North in Week 2.

The Panthers committed 15 penalties for 115 yards.

"When you're trying to rebuild a program and you're not used to success, it's like you're (waiting) until something bad happens," Round Lake coach Cristo Garza said. "So far this season, we haven't been able to get past the bad."

Round Lake used trickery to score on the game's opening drive. On fourth-and-14, Nick Kowalski took a pitch and hit Calhoun, who shed a tackler and scored on a 25-yard passing play. Calhoun, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, saw action at both receiver and quarterback.

The Panthers threatened again after Andrews' second of back-to-back TDs, from 6 yards out, made it 12-7 midway through the second quarter. The visitors drove to the Grayslake Central 12. But a holding penalty and pass breakups by Zack Reese and Wagner allowed the Rams' defense to hold.

Grayslake Central got a 3-yard touchdown run from Nick Bernardini to extend its lead to 18-7 after three quarters.

Alan Espinosa kept Round Lake within striking distance the entire night, rushing 21 times for 132 yards.

"We're feeding him the rock, and we're doing everything we can (to get him involved)," Garza said. "He's banged up with a shoulder. I got great kids."