The Lake Zurich-Stevenson game is one of the best rivalries in Illinois high school football. It dates back to 1964 when Ela-Vernon High School was split into the two current institutions. Last year's 24-23 Patriot victory was the Bears' only loss until the 7A finals in Champaign.
The excitement for last night's game was probably the biggest I've seen all year. (Yes, more so than even the Mt. Carmel-Loyola game.) The crowd was huge on an unseasonably warm October evening. And just minutes before game time dozens of cars were still searching frantically for a parking space. One Honda hybrid even had to park illegally (no ticket). It was justified, however, as its owner nearly missed the kickoff.
Stevenson came out of the locker room loaded for Bear (pun intended). Quarterback Matt Micucci had the best outing -- by far -- I've seen from him yet. The 5'11", 170-pound senior accounted for two touchdown passes and a field goal in the second quarter and booted at least two kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. Micucci had several good receivers to choose from, including Jon Way, Troy Radke and Anthony Bozin (that's him above, number 3, chest bumping Micucci in the end zone after catching a 55-yard touchdown pass).
Midway through the second quarter, the Patriots were up 17-0 and the Bears looked discouraged.
But it's the mark of a good team (and a good coach) when they can come back from a deficit, especially on the road. And the Bears did, beginning with a field goal just before intermission to trail by only 17-3.
(Hint to future Lake Zurich opponents: don't kick the ball to John Orlando, who set up the scoring drive with a 40-yard kickoff return. He may be the most talented runner on the team. Why doesn't coach Bryan Stortz use him more? And why did Stevenson coach Bill McNamara allow Micucci to kick to him? Mysteries both.)
In the second half Stortz reverted to his usual strategy of using one back to run the ball over and over (and over) again. (Last year his workhorse was Jacob Brinlee, and I've never seen anyone carry the ball as much as he did in the final game against Wheaton Warrenville South.) Last night Stortz turned to his quarterback, Zach Till, and he brought the Bears back to a 17-17 tie midway through the third quarter. It looked as though Lake Zurich had all the momentum and was poised to win the game when the Patriots held the Bears on a thrilling goal line stand at the one-foot line in the fourth quarter. (It was at this point that I thought Till looked a little tired; it's hard to ask that much from one player.)
But the Bears weren't finished and drove again to the Patriots' 3-yard line on their next possession. Stevenson blocked the field goal attempt, however, with four and a half minutes remaining to set up the winning drive.
In other games last night (home team in CAPS):
Glenbrook South 56, WAUKEGAN 14 (Titans are now 6-1.)
MAINE SOUTH 48, Evanston 7 (The Wildkits haven't beaten the Hawks since 1999.)
Tonight: No. 6 Prairie Ridge at No. 18 Jacobs.
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