Libertyville strikes back at Lake Zurich
The memory of last season's Week 8 contest at Libertyville between the Wildcats and Lake Zurich still lingered in the mind of Wildcats defensive end Jordan McInerney.
He remembered all too well the 40-16 loss as he and his teammates prepared to face Lake Zurich on Friday night in a North Suburban Conference Lake Division opener for both teams.
“We didn't like what we saw last season,” McInerney said. “We really wanted to beat (Lake Zurich).”
Thanks to McInerney and the Wildcats defense, coupled with a sensational 3-touchdown, 215-yard offensive night from senior quarterback Riley Lees, the Wildcats exacted their fair share of revenge in defeating Lake Zurich 20-10.
The win marks the first 3-0 start to the season for Libertyville (3-0, 1-0) since 2006.
The loss for Lake Zurich (1-2, 0-1), was its second straight at home this season. That hasn't occurred for the Bears since the start of the 2001 season when Lake Zurich fell to McHenry and Cary-Grove. It also marked the first time the Bears lost back-to-back regular season games since the end of the 2009 season.
“The difference between this year and last year is we are a family now,” said McInerney, who contributed 1.5 sacks and 3 other tackles for loss. “We are truly a family and it is working out for us this season so far.”
McInerney and his 6-foot-5 frame came up with one of the bigger plays of the night for Libertyville. After the Wildcats forced Lake Zurich to punt, McInerney busted through the line and blocked the Bears punt.
McInerney then scooped up the loose ball and returned it to 30 yards to the Bears 13. Two plays later, Lees took it in from a yard out and Libertyville had a 13-3 lead.
“(Libertyville) had to get a first down; they got one. We had to get a first down; we couldn't,” said Lake Zurich coach Dave Proffitt. “Then you have the blocked punt. We had a breakdown, and they took advantage of it.”
Lake Zurich's defense also came through with a turnover early in the fourth quarter. As the Wildcats were protecting their advantage, junior Jeremy Brown stepped in front of a Lees pass giving the Bears the ball back at midfield. Less than a minute later, Ben Klett (16 carries, 47 yards) took it in from 12 yards out and Lake Zurich was within 13-10 with 2:54 left.
“No question our kids played hard tonight,” Proffitt said. “But we just made too many mistakes against a good team and you can't do that and expect to win.”
Lees showed resiliency of his own as me marched the Wildcats back down the field in 6 plays and capped the drive with a slippery highlight-reel run that took him through the Bears' defense for a 28-yard clinching score.
“I felt really good for Riley there,” said Libertyville coach Mike Jones. “On the series before when he threw the pic, he missed a wide open receiver. But he is the type of kid that will bounce back from that type of play.”
Lees engineered the Wildcats offense on a night where the wind and rain made it difficult to move the football. Lees tallied all three Libertyville touchdowns and tallied 102 yards on the ground and another 108 through the air.
“We knew (Lees) was a good player and it makes things tough because he is not the type of player that you can simulate in practice,” Proffitt said. “But I think for the most part we did a good job defensing him.”
Lees and the Wildcats opened the scoring on an impressive opening drive that chewed up better than seven minutes off the clock. Libertyville converted three third downs on the drive, which was capped by Lees' first touchdown run of the night from a yard out.