Bad break for Ziolkowski, Wauconda
This can’t be easy for “JZ.”
Wauconda’s tough-luck football season got a little tougher — and painful — last Friday night.
Senior wide receiver Jake Ziolkowski suffered a broken wrist in the second half of the Bulldogs’ 28-12 loss to Antioch and will be lost for the rest of the season. Ziolkowski had caught a 62-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Branden Rowe in the second quarter.
“He is out until baseball season,” Wauconda coach Dave Mills said. “The broken wrist will take eight weeks to heal. We now just need to get the kid on a college team so he can keep playing.”
Promoted to the varsity as a freshman by then head coach Glen Kozlowski, Ziolkowski was having a terrific season. In just half a season, the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder had already established career highs in receptions (32), yards (675, 19.8 average) and touchdowns (8).
As a junior, Ziolkowski caught 29 passes for 603 yards and 6 TDs, and was named all-conference.
He was selected honorable mention all-conference as both a freshman and sophomore.
“The loss of a four-year varsity player is very tough on a team,” Mills said. “Jake was brought up as a freshman because he could block. Over the next three years, Jake has become one of the area’s best football players and an outstanding receiver.
“His numbers through five games show he changes games. As a two-year team captain, his leadership will be hard to replace also.”
Ziolkowski is an outstanding student/athlete, boasting a 4.2 GPA.
“His smarts, his desire to improve, his work ethic and his tremendous character are those qualities that make outstanding citizens,” Mills said. “We will miss Jake on the field.”
Wauconda has lost four straight games since an Opening Night win at Woodstock. The Bulldogs seek their first win in North Suburban Prairie Division action Friday night, when they visit North Chicago.
Cokefair on a tear: Grayslake North wide receiver Josh Cokefair wrapped up last season with a 2-touchdown game against Johnsburg.But despite the Knights#146; new spread-option offense this season, the senior had not caught a TD pass through the first three weeks.He then had a pair against that team #8212; Johnsburg #8212; again, before scoring on pass plays of 58, 14 and 62 yards from quarterback AJ Fish in a homecoming win over Hampshire last Friday night.Cokefair has 18 receptions, 12 coming against Hampshire, in the last two weeks.Fish also threw touchdown passes to Drake Davis and Matt Schlagetter. Fish finished with school records of 419 passing yards and 5 TDs.#147;It just takes some time,#148; Grayslake North coach Steve Wood said of his team#146;s new offense. #147;The kids are starting to click a little bit. We had some bad luck early. But now the kids are catching everything.#148;