CL South downs Prairie Ridge

Crystal Lake South quarterback Austin Rogers did it all for the Gators in a 28-7 victory at Prairie Ridge Friday.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior rushed for 55 yards and 2 touchdowns, threw for another score and intercepted a pass on defense late in the game to provide the final margin in CL South’s second straight victory.

“It was kind of the Austin Rogers show tonight,” CL South coach Chuck Ahsmann said. “He’s been getting better every week, learning the position. But he’s a good athlete and a playmaker, and you need guys like that.”

Prairie Ridge (2-4, 0-3) took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a rushing touchdown set up by a long H-back option pass to the Gators’ 11-yard line.

CL South (3-3, 2-2) responded with 28 unanswered points. A 20-yard run by Rogers and his 45-yard scoring strike to junior Brandon Marconi, who nabbed his first varsity touchdown, staked the Gators to a 14-7 halftime lead.

A quarterback sneak by Rogers gave the Gators some second-half breathing room. Though Rogers subbed in for only 3 defensive plays at cornerback, he sealed the victory with his interception and return for 6 points. Senior teammates Brandon LaPak and Corbin Pennino also grabbed interceptions for the Gators to snap a 2-game losing streak against the crosstown Wolves.

“It’s big,” Ahsmann said of the win. “One, it’s big to beat them because they’re very well coached and it’s tough to stop that option. Also, it gets us to 3 wins with 3 to go. We have Dundee-Crown next week so we’re hoping we can get No. 4.”