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What a rush, as Wauconda blanks Vernon Hills

A sack here, a sack there, and before you knew it, Wauconda had a victory in the bag.

The Wauconda defense was on point in Friday's 12-0 win over host Vernon Hills. It was also smack dab on top of Vernon Hills quarterback Connor McNamara for much of the game.

The visiting Bulldogs sacked McNamara four times and rushed him countless others, quieting one of Lake County's top quarterbacks.

Senior defensive lineman Connor Mitchell was particularly active for Wauconda. He was credited with all 4 sacks, and in the final minute of the game, he tipped a McNamara pass in the red zone that wound up in the hands of teammate Jeremy Hollander. Hollander returned the interception 80 yards to seal the deal for the Bulldogs.

The win moves Wauconda to 2-4 overall and keeps hopes for a playoff berth alive. Vernon Hills, which drops to 5-1 on its homecoming, missed on a chance to secure a playoff berth with the minimum six wins.

"We worked so hard this week (preparing)," said Mitchell, who says the 4 sacks are his most ever in a single game. "I look to my defensive backs. They did a heck of a job covering. They practiced their drops all week. Absolutely awesome job. I just stuck to my technique, and I give credit to my other linemen for taking double teams that allowed me to go one-on-one and (get to McNamara). That put a smile on my face."

Mitchell said there weren't many smiles on McNamara's face. He could sense frustration, especially early, as McNamara guided the Cougars to just 2 first down and only 53 yards of offense in the first half.

"We switched up our coverage and focused film, film, film (at practice). We focused on getting (McNamara) contained and rushing him and rushing him. The defense absolutely did a heck of a job."

The Wauconda defense got an immediate shot in the arm, thanks to a score by the offense on its first possession. The Bulldogs took eight minutes of the first quarter off the clock and scored on a 15-play drive that went 80 yards. Quarterback Kevin Malisheski hit Mitchell, who also plays tight end, in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass.

A blocked point-after made it 6-0 Wauconda, and that was also the halftime score.

Late in the third quarter, Vernon Hills had appeared to score on a 13-yard pass from McNamara to Kyle Hull. But a holding call negated the touchdown. Two plays later, McNamara then threw an interception in the end zone. The pass was picked off by Wauconda's Thomas Baldocchi.

Still down 6-0, Vernon Hills was scrambling to make something happen late in the game and found a bit of magic. On fourth down, McNamara hit Jonathan McGuire with a pass that wasn't quite enough for the first down, but then McGuire lateraled to Chris Mariella who ran an additional 23 yards for the first down. That got Vernon Hills to the Wauconda 27-yard line with 1:28 left.

But five plays later, McNamara, who finished 23-of-42 for 192 yards and 2 interceptions, threw the pick-six to Hollander.

"We had our opportunities," Vernon Hills coach Bill Bellecomo said. "We just didn't execute and put it in.

"We knew Mitchell was going to get his. He's just a good ball player. We saw him against Lakes and Stevenson. We knew what he brought to the table. But we still missed receivers. We still dropped balls. In this game, you just can't turn on a switch. We knew Wauconda was going to come in fighting for their lives. If they win out, they're right there for the playoffs."

Even with so much to play for, the odds were certainly against Wauconda, playing against the only undefeated team in the North Suburban Prairie Division on its own field. On top of that, Wauconda had been struggling. The Bulldogs were riding a two-game losing streak and had put up just 9 points combined in their previous two games.

But the Bulldogs were confident on defense and proficient on offense. They dominated time of possession with an efficient running game and rode the backs of running backs Jacob Bicknase (18 rushed for 72 yards) and Andry Nevski (16 rushes for 68 yards).

"We've been playing good football, we really have," Wauconda coach Dave Mills said. "We just had to play a complete game and tonight, we played a really good game in all facets. We played good, hard physical football."

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