Waukegan 19, Mundelein 7
It was finally all coming together for the Mundelein football team. The offense had just marched 63 yards running the ball every time, and Waukegan's defense appeared to be on its last legs.
As the Mustangs were converting a key third down, Waukegan linebacker Luis Santana poked the ball loose from Mundelein quarterback Mike Petlak. Reshaan Melvin pounced on the ball and Mundelein's threat was over.
That was just one of several big plays from Melvin.
Later in the fourth quarter, with his team clinging to a 12-7 lead, Melvin made a highlight-reel, one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone to seal a 19-7 win for host Waukegan on Saturday.
"I didn't think (Reshaan) would catch it," Waukegan quarterback Mar'Quezie Edmonds said. "I saw him get a hand on it. Then he jumped up and had it. It was a great play."
Edmonds was a picture of consistency on a picture-perfect day at Weiss Field in Waukegan, as the Bulldogs improved to 2-0, matching their win total of last season.
He completed 14 of 22 passes for a career-best 252 yards and 3 scores.
"This kid grew up in a hurry," Waukegan coach Pat Jennings said. "He worked from April through the summer, then through camp, to get better, and you see how much confidence he has."
Edmonds did his damage through the air, while Mundelein (1-1) chewed up large chunks of yards on the ground. Led by senior Brian Arnold, Mundelein wracked up 145 yards on the ground. Arnold led the attack with 93 yards on 14 carries.
"Our offensive line has been working hard at getting better," Arnold said. "It was nice to see them moving guys today and giving the backs room to move."
Waukegan hit the end zone on each of its first two possessions. Edmonds found his brother Mar'Quone over the middle and he did the rest, taking it in for a 43-yard score and a 6-0 advantage.
The second score showed more of Edmonds' patience. Under pressure on a key fourth-down deep in Mundelein territory, Edmonds side-stepped the rush and hit running back Montrael Barnes in the flat. Barnes spun away from one Mustang defender, then carried another into the end zone for a 12-0 advantage.
"That play showed how patient (Mar'Quezie) can be," Jennings said. "He saw (Barnes) roll off a blitz pick-up and hit him perfectly."
Mundelein answered on its initial drive of the second quarter. Jamal Ross carried the ball the final 9 yards of a 67-yard drive to pull the Mustangs within 12-7. But Mundelein would not cross the Waukegan 30-yard line the rest of the day.
"I thought coming in this would be a 35-34 game and I didn't know who would end up with 35," Jennings said. "But for us to hold a team like (Mundelein) to only 7 points says a lot."