West Chicago falls to Oswego East
Moving the chains at critical times proved to be the difference in West Chicago's 2015 season opener against Oswego East.
The visiting Wolves made several crucial third- and fourth-down conversions to keep first-half drives alive, eventually cashing in for 3 second-quarter touchdowns en route to a 34-6 nonconference victory over the host Wildcats Friday night.
West Chicago hung tough early before Oswego East took advantage of a 19-yard punt to start a drive at the Wildcats' 28-yard line late in the first quarter. Three plays later, the Wolves jumped ahead 6-0 on a 4-yard quarterback keeper by Jaylon Banks with 2:49 left in the opening quarter.
After holding West Chicago to a three-and-out, Oswego East marched 68 yards in 13 plays, building a 12-0 lead on a 12-yard scamper by Banks three minutes into the second quarter. On two occasions the Wildcats forced Oswego East into fourth-down situations, but the Wolves converted both opportunities to maintain possession before Banks' second TD run.
"We just couldn't get off the field in that drive," West Chicago coach Ted Monken said. "Our defense did some nice things to force them into third and long and fourth downs, but those third- and fourth-down conversions made it tough for us, and when our offense doesn't get first downs we can't get the field flipped."
On the ensuing possession, the Wildcats' offense began clicking, marching 60 yards to Oswego East's 20. But two incomplete passes forced West Chicago to turn the ball over on downs, and four plays later the Wolves struck again, as tailback Tyran Bailey dashed 59 yards for a touchdown to give Oswego East a 19-0 edge. The speedy 5-foot-8, 170-pound junior then broke the game open just before the half, reaching the end zone again on a 6-yard TD run with 29 seconds remaining before halftime for a 25-0 lead. In the opening half the Wolves rushed for 213 yards on the ground.
"Jaylen does a good job of running the ball, and Tyron is an elusive back," Oswego East coach Tyson LeBlanc said. "Our offensive line did a good job of opening holes for them as well."
After earning just two first downs in the opening half, West Chicago reached the end zone for the first time on a 4-play, 73-yard drive in the third quarter, highlighted by a 56-yard pass from new varsity quarterback Alex Turney to wideout Jacob Wiegele. Turney then found wide receiver Mikey Bibbs in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard scoring pass to cap the drive. Wiegele is one of more than a dozen starters filling new roles in the Wildcats' 2015 starting lineup.
"The toughest thing for us is 14 to 15 of our starters are playing different positions for the first time," Monken said. "They're learning the ins and outs of how to play a new position, whether moving from defensive back to wide receiver or linebacker to lineman. It's a challenge for us. You're going to make mistakes and have to learn on the job in situations like that."
The Wildcats hit the road for the first of three straight away games next Friday at DeKalb. West Chicago then faces St. Charles North on Sept. 11 and East Aurora on Sept. 18. Oswego East hosts Marian Catholic in its home opener next Friday in its quest to return to the playoffs after going 3-6 during an injury-riddled 2014 season.