One week after pulling out an unlikely one-point win against Hoffman Estates, No. 15 Fremd’s luck ran out Friday night against the other team from Hoffman Estates–Conant–in a tough Mid-Suburban West contest.
With Cougars quarterback Jason Ortiz finding his touch when it mattered most, Conant pulled out an 18-14 upset when Leon Wiggins (10 carries, 97 yards) broke free from 20 yards out with 23 seconds remaining in the game.
Before Conant’s final and decisive drive, which began at the Cougars’ 26 after a key fourth-down defensive stand, Ortiz had completed just 3-of-10 passes. Two minutes later, the 6-foot-2-inch senior had moved his team 60 yards down to the Fremd 20, setting the stage for Wiggins’ heroics. Ortiz finished the game 7-of-16 for 127 yards.
Fremd (6-1, 2-1) came into the final quarter nursing a modest 14-12 lead thanks to a 3-yard burst by Joseph Klein with 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Klein’s run capped a 78-yard drive, 75 courtesy of Jamil Walker.
Walker’s 25-carry, 225-yard effort wasn’t enough to carry Fremd past Conant’s stingy defense. In seven games this season, the Cougars have yielded just 72 points.
“If games were decided by total yardage, we’d be 1-6 right now,” said Conant coach Dave Pendergast. “But we have a great defense that prevents scoring.”
After trading missed 31-yard field goals through the first quarter and a half, Fremd struck first thanks to a fumble deep in Conant’s end. Just three seconds after Matt Nemshick recovered a Tyler Sellergren fumble on the Cougars’ 15, Walker dashed in with 2:12 left in the first half for a 7-0 Vikings advantage.
Jonathan Schoenberg.
Up next: Fremd is at home Friday against Palatine.
2. Naperville Central
Phil Horvath was 14-of-21 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns as the Redhawks (7-0, 5-0) roared to a 35-0 victory over Naperville North in the DuPage Valley. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Friday at Glenbard East.
5. Joliet Catholic
J.R. Zwierzynski and Chris Gruber each scored three touchdowns as the Hilltoppers (6-1, 5-0) cruised past Benet 52-7 in the Catholic Metro White. Zwierzynski, who ran for 110 yards, scored on runs of 8 and 29 yards and a reception of 11 yards. Gruber scored on runs of 6 and 13 and on a reception of 15.
Up next: Friday at Marist.
7. Thornton
Anthony Bagnara had an 18-yard TD run and an interception as Lincoln-Way Central (5-2, 3-2) downed the Wildcats 27-10 in the SICA Blue. Antonio Tribble scored on a 3-yard run for Thornton (6-1, 4-1). See story, Back Page.
Up next: Friday at Joliet.
8. Richards
The Bulldogs (7-0, 5-0) scored on their first four possessions as they rolled to a 47-12 victory over Crete-Monee in the SICA Orange. Donte Ellis caught three touchdown passes from three different players–running back Ricky Rodriguez and quarterbacks Chris Humbles and Sean Lewis.
Cory Terrell led Crete-Monee (3-4, 3-2) with 136 yards and a touchdown in 21 carries.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Oak Lawn.
9. Riverside-Brookfield
Tim Brasic was 26-of-42 passing for 402 yards and threw for six touchdowns as the Bulldogs (7-0, 5-0) pounded Elmwood Park 40-0 in the Suburban Prairie White. Shatone Powers had 12 catches for 224 yards and three touchdowns.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Herscher.
10. Hinsdale South
Sam Louise threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Hornets (7-0, 5-0) blew out Leyden 40-0 in the West Suburban Gold. Louise scored on runs of 2 and 5 yards and threw a 75-yard scoring pass to Josh Well. Mike Willer scored on a 72-yard run to get Hinsdale South on the board in the first quarter.
Up next: Friday at home vs. No. 19 Hinsdale Central.
11. Dunbar
Reginald Gray caught a 29-yard TD pass and recovered two fumbles as Morgan Park (6-1, 3-1) stunned the Mighty Men 36-34 in the Public Illini Southeast. Steve Holden had 165 yards rushing for Dunbar (6-1, 3-1). See story, Back Page.
Up next: Oct. 13 at Gately vs. Simeon.
12. Prospect
The night’s noise didn’t come completely from the halftime fireworks. Prospect (7-0, 3-0 Mid-Suburban East) made a lot, too, during its 42-0 homecoming romp over Elk Grove (4-3, 1-2).
George Smith was responsible for much of the racket, completing 10-of-17 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns. The Prospect defense was also loud. The Knights, led by Ben Coffman, Nick Plodzien, Patrick Wilson, Chris Bergner and Brian Lett, held Elk Grove tailback Justin McDonald to 40 yards in 14 carries. Prospect also sacked QB Tom Kudyba four times as the Knights moved to 7-0 for the first time since 1970.
Up next: Oct. 13 at Buffalo Grove.
13. McHenry
Nick Guardyak rushed for 250 yards and scored four TDs in 14 carries as the Warriors (7-0, 7-0) routed Dundee-Crown 40-0 in the Fox Valley. Guardyak scored on runs of 63, 38, 2 and 5.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Crystal Lake South.
14. Carmel
Eric Luna rushed for 241 yards and four touchdowns in 18 carries as the Corsairs (7-0, 5-0) romped past Marist 44-17 in the Catholic Metro White. Luna capped his night with a 90-yard TD run in the fourth.
Up next: Oct. 13 at Benet.
16. Bolingbrook
Derell Jenkins was 11-of-22 passing for 188 yards and threw two touchdown passes as the Raiders (6-1, 5-0) held off Stagg 27-26 in the SICA Gray.
Lee Misher’s 3-yard touchdown run gave Bolingbrook a 27-20 late in the third quarter.
Stagg (1-6, 1-4) scored with 4:05 left when Joe Ganz hit Mike Myers with a 13-yard touchdown pass, but Ganz misfired on the two-point conversion pass.
Brandon Meany led Stagg with 157 yards and a touchdown in 24 carries, while Ganz finished 12-of-21 passing for 120 yards and two TD passes.
Up next: Oct. 13 at home vs. Andrew.
17. Thornton Fractional South
Pierre Thomas ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns in 14 carries as the Rebels (7-0, 5-0) ripped Eisenhower 48-6 in the SICA Orange.
Before the game, Eisenhower’s Rasul “Rocky” Clark, who was paralyzed while he was tackled in a game last year, was honored with a plaque from his former teammates and was named honorary captain.
Up next: Oct. 13 at Reavis.
18. Lockport
Joe Zabel ran for 94 yards in 24 carries and scored on a 5-yard touchdown run as the Porters (6-1, 5-0) defeated Homewood-Flossmoor 9-6 in the SICA Blue. Steve Walker was 11-of-23 passing for 101 yards for Lockport.
Steve Oliver scored on a 1-yard run to put H-F (2-5, 1-4) ahead 6-2 in the third quarter. Zabel then scored on the next possession.
Lockport’s defense was strong in the clutch as defensive lineman Mark Tokarz recorded two sacks on H-F’s final possession to stall the Vikings.
Up next: Friday at home vs. Sandburg.
19. Hinsdale Central
Brad Bower rushed for a touchdown and threw for another as the Red Devils (7-0, 5-0) defeated Lyons Township 28-3 in the West Suburban Silver. Bower had a 12-yard TD run and a 6-yard scoring pass to Jay Ridge.
Up next: Friday at No. 10 Hinsdale South.
