Lakes delivers hits, victory

They call Brandon Grant, simply enough, "BG."

And his special-teams hit was so "B-i-G" that an excited Lakes football coach Luke Mertens called it "the best hit in the history of our program" as he addressed his team after its come-from-behind, 21-14 win over visiting Harvard in Lake Villa on Friday night.

"That was a violent hit," said Eagles linebacker Tyler Menheer, who delivered one himself. "That was ugly."

On a night that provided ample ugliness (a combined 22 penalties for 205 yards) and hard hits, both during plays and after whistles, Lakes manufactured the only score of the second half. It happened when quarterback Jeff Eder tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Josh Pohlman in the right corner of the end zone with 7:35 left in the fourth quarter.

Lakes' defense did the rest, not allowing a first down the rest of the way. Pohlman's interception in the closing seconds secured the Eagles' win, as they improved to 2-0, while dropping Harvard to 1-1.

"We knew it was going to be (physical)," Mertens said. "We knew coming in they were a physical team."

Grant delivered his hit while blocking for Donte Arnold on a fourth-quarter punt return.

"I was just looking to get back and spring Donte," said Grant, a 6-foot, 230-pound senior. "I was just looking for him across the field and I was hoping Donte would stay outside so I could find somebody."

Menheer got especially physical late in the third quarter, jarring the ball loose from Hornets quarterback Timmy Linhart with a vicious hit on an attempted pass. The injured Linhart, who opened the scoring with a 54-yard TD pass to Collin Nolen on the game's first series, left the game and didn't return.

"I just saw him fake the ball (on the handoff) and I took it," Menheer said. "I hit him pretty good - full speed."

Lakes defensive lineman John Pfeiffer recovered the fumble, and although Lakes couldn't capitalize, the home team was fired up.

With speedy James Zell (12 carries, 121 yards, 2 TDs) on the sideline with cramps in both calves, sophomore Direll Clark came off the bench and provided Lakes a spark on the game-winning drive. He rushed four times for 21 yards and finished with 51 yards on 10 carries.

Zell busted off an 81-yard TD run, thanks to a great block by Parker Blain, to pull Lakes with 14-7 early in the second quarter. Zell's 3-yard run had Lakes even at halftime at 14-14.

Lakes' defense got better as the game went on.

"Our defense played great the second half," Menheer said.