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Big game from Moderwell helps Libertyville past Lake Forest

The Libertyville offense has ridden the legs and the arm of senior quarterback Riley Lees to great success over the better part of the least two seasons. But on Saturday, as the Wildcats played host to Lake Forest in a rescheduled game from Friday night, the Wildcats offense opted for a different track.

Senior running back Noah Moderwell has also fared very well in the Cats' offense so far this year - so much so that he's earned a nickname: The Monorail.

Moderwell sparked the Wildcats early on with a pair of first-quarter touchdown runs, both featuring the 185-pound Moderwell running through several Scout defenders.

Lees did the rest as Libertyville snapped a 7-yard losing streak to Lake Forest by drubbing the Scouts 42-7.

"(Noah) has taken so much pressure off our offense," Lees said. "Teams try and focus on stopping our run game, and they can't with him in the backfield."

The Monorail was in full service on the Wildcats' second drive of the afternoon. After coughing it up on the first drive, Libertyville (4-0, 2-0) took advantage of a Lake Forest turnover as senior Ryan Maher stepped in front of a pass from Danny Carollo and returned it deep into Lake Forest territory. The play was costly for the Wildcats, though, as Maher injured his right knee and did not return.

Seven plays later, Moderwell motored in from a yard out, and Libertyville led 6-0.

"It feels great to get the ball, but in the end it's about what's best for the team and if I can help then that's great," Moderwell said. "We came in today thinking about legacy, and the coaches asked us about how we want to be remembered and we left it all out there today."

The Wildcats forced a turnover on the ensuing kickoff, with Brian Murphy scooping up the Scouts' fumble. Two plays later, Moderwell powered into the end zone for his second score of the day and the Wildcats had all the points they needed.

"I wouldn't want to tackle him," Libertyville coach Mike Jones said of Moderwell. "He's a tough kid that plays hard, and that's the type of kid you want."

Lake Forest (2-2, 0-2) tried to contain the Northwestern-bound Lees but could not get it done. He ran for 136 yards and a pair of scores and threw for 138, including a 77-yard scoring pass to Henry Schmidt to put the game into a running clock early in the third quarter.

"Libertyville will run (Moderwell) or run (Lees)," Lake Forest coach Chuck Spagnoli said. "You have a choice to try and take away one or the other, and they changed it up a little but not to the point it wasn't anything we haven't seen. Give them credit - they played well and we need to compete better."

Lees scored on runs on 7 and 48 yards and tossed a 5-yard TD to Miami-Ohio-bound senior Ben Kimpler.

Lake Forest had 211 total yards from scrimmage. The Scouts found the end zone late in the third quarter on a Carollo-to-Quinn Julian 30-yard pass.

  Libertyville's Brian Murphy breaks a tackle by Lake Forest's Quinn Julian after recovering a Scouts fumble on a first-quarter kickoff during Saturday's game. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's Noah Moderwell carries the ball against Lake Forest during the first quarter of Saturday's game. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's Noah Moderwell, left, gets past Lake Forests' Jaxon Mills for his second touchdown of the first quarter during Saturday's game. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville quarterback Riley Lees, left, looks for room past teammate Brad Deberry as Lake Forest's Palmer Ferris follows in pursuit during Saturday's game at Libertyville. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's Ben Kimpler, left, celebrates his touchdown catch with teammate Jon Evers during the second quarter of Saturday's game against Lake Forest. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville quarterback Riley Lees, middle, gets past Lake Forest's Matthew Clifford, left, and Liam Pooler as he runs for his second touchdown of the second quarter during Saturday's game. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville quarterback Riley Lees carries the ball for a second-quarter touchdown during Saturday's game against Lake Forest. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville quarterback Riley Lees, left, is congratulated by teammates following his second-quarter touchdown during Saturday's game against Lake Forest. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's Tim Calamari, right, holds onto the ball and tries to stay on his feet after making a catch in front of Lake Forest's Andrew Athenson during the second quarter of Saturday's game. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's Ben Kimpler makes a touchdown catch against the defense of Lake Forest's Andrew Athenson during the second quarter of Saturday's game at Libertyville. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville Anthony Tubek tackles Lake Forest quarterback Daniel Carollo during Saturday's game. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville's Henry Schmidt breaks a tackle by Lake Forest's Jonathan DiValerio during Saturday's game. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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