Sterling handles Lakes

Sterling exploded with 21 unanswered points in the second half and got past Lakes 31-9 in a nonconference game in Lake Villa Friday night.

Lakes, in search of its first victory after going without one in the spring, was down 10-9 at the break.

"We were battling and I thought we were right there with them," Lakes coach Jordan Eder said. "One of the big turning points in the third (quarter), we took a sack a had a 15-yard loss. So, we punted and it pushed us back and gave (Sterling) a short field to punch it in. Other than that we were right there with them."

Sterling (1-0) opened the third quarter with Antonio Tablonte's (17 carries, 103 yards) 5-yard touchdown run that made the score 17-9 with 8:47 left.

After a short punt, the Golden Warriors added another rushing TD on Tyree Kelly's 3-yard scamper with 4:15 left for a 24-9 advantage.

Quarterback Drew Kested added a 75-yard run for a score in the fourth for the final score.

"We talked a few years back of playing good people," Sterling coach Jon Schlemmer said. "Coach Eder reached out to us and we thought we fit pretty well as they are 6A and were 5A. They played hard and our kids found a way to pull it out. Our drive 4, 5, 6 hours to get a win, I don't care how that works for us."

Lakes quarterback Max Bausch scored on a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter that made the score 10-9. Bausch earlier in the opening quarter made a 28-yard field goal.