Throwback victory for Fremd

Fremd is sporting flashy new uniforms this year, but the Vikings opted for throwback tactics Friday night at Hersey.

Fremd (1-1) used a smothering defense and just enough offense in securing its first victory of the season with a 14-7 Mid-Suburban League crossover win at Roland Goins Stadium in Arlington Heights.

The Vikings defense held a Hersey (1-1) squad that scored 49 points in its opening victory to 145 total yards.

“It was an old-school struggle,” said Fremd coach Lou Sponsel after his first victory.

Neither team scored in the second half.

“Last week we had a lot of wide-eyed kids that weren’t ready for the speed of Lake Zurich,” said Sponsel. “We challenged them, and the defense came ready to play.”

Junior quarterback Sam Beutler completed 6-of-8 passes for 120 yards, including a 7-yard scoring toss to senior Derrick Gaines Jr., giving Fremd a 14-0 advantage with 6:15 remaining in the first half.

That was more than enough for a Vikings defense that limited Hersey quarterback Quinn Orlandi to 75 yards passing and 1 touchdown. In Week 1, the Hersey senior combined for 275 yards and 6 touchdowns.

“Their defense played hard and they were really fast,” said Orlandi, who was 12-for-21 passing and was limited to minus-3 yards rushing.

Orlandi did find Ed Miklasz for a 30-yard score with 2:23 remaining in the first half to narrow the Huskies’ deficit to 14-7.

But then the Vikings defense turned it up a notch. Junior Matt Konopka, who was moved from safety to the defensive line this week, combined with senior Philip Hetzner, Brad Ruerdanz, Cody Rosen and John Magnani to limit Hersey to 52 total yards and only 2 first downs in the second half.