Bozin’s big play leads the way as Stevenson rolls to victory

Stevenson’s Anthony Bozin scored on a 48-yard punt return in the first three minutes of the first quarter, and that was just the beginning.

The host Patriots scored 33 points in the first quarter and ran past Mundelein 40-7 in a North Suburban Conference Lake Division football game Friday night.

“It was a very short punt,” Bozin said. “I found an opening and I was able to take it back.”

By the second half, Bozin and plenty of other Stevenson starters were resting.

“I was happy to see everybody play,” Bozin said. “All of the redshirts that work hard in practice were able to get in.”

Later in the first quarter, Bozin scored on a 3-yard dive. Stevenson’s defense allowed only 23 yards in the first quarter, and the “D” also contributed a touchdown. Nick Costantini intercepted a Mundelein pass and returned for 22 yards with 2:55 left.

“All season, we’ve been nagged that the defense needed to score a touchdown,” said Costantini, who scored his first varsity touchdown. ”We all knew that this was the week it was going to happen.”

Ian Burns scored from 2 yards out with 36 seconds left in the first quarter. Collin Becker ended the Patriots’ scoring with a 2-yard run midway through the third.

Ryan Mass also had a first-half interception for the home team.

“I thought all of our guys played well tonight,” Stevenson coach Bill McNamara said. “We have a lot of respect for Mundelein. We needed to come out firing. We made some plays early, especially with some interceptions that helped get the score going.”

Mundelein averted the shutout when freshman quarterback Gavin Graves opened the fourth with a 23-yard TD pass to Luke Adams.

“I thought it was good that we finally got the momentum and we made a play,” Adams said. “There were mistakes made on my part tonight, but I’m glad that I did something positive to build on.”