Stellar night by QB Behrens powers Warren past Libertyville
Libertyville's marching band played the "Batman" theme song, among other iconic TV show tunes, at halftime of Friday night's football game against visiting Warren.
But it was Warren senior quarterback Adam Behrens who played superhero in the Blue Devils' 42-8 victory.
And he prefers DC Comics, which publishes Batman books.
"I do like DC (Comics) more than I like Marvel," a grinning Behrens - bound for Arizona State University on a baseball scholarship - said after the North Suburban Conference opener for both schools.
But Behrens didn't need a cowl to complete 10 of 13 passes for 168 yards and 3 touchdowns and rush for 50 more yards on 5 carries.
A helmet did just the job just fine.
Warren senior running back Charley Thompson also had a marvelous game, rushing for 161 yards on 19 caries and running for a 1-yard TD that put the visitors up 27-0 at the 5:24 mark of the third quarter.
Warren (3-0, 1-0 in the NSC) established a resounding tone in a hurry, getting a 63-yard TD toss from Behrens to senior all-everything Jailen Duffie WR/CB (3 receptions, 86 yards, TD) on the Blue Devils' first play from scrimmage.
"It was an option route," Behrens said. "All I did was lob the ball to Jailen, and he took care of the rest."
Libertyville (1-2, 0-1) limited state-ranked Warren - coming off a dandy 19-17 defeat of Maine South - to only 7 points in the first frame and stopped Warren at the Wildcats' 1-yard line on consecutive rushing attempts, thanks to big-time plays by Libertyville's Scott Criel and Boyd Hunt at the line of scrimmage.
But Warren senior linebacker Justin Kretz - who would score on a 4-yard TD burst in the fourth quarter - tackled a ball carrier in the end zone for a safety on the hosts' ensuing possession in the second quarter.
Behrens later hit senior tight end Xavier Schild for a 13-yard TD connection to secure a 15-0 advantage - the halftime score.
Behrens' third TD toss of the game came early in the third quarter, with the ball landing in the hands of senior wideout Niko Mantzoros (1 catch, 5 yards, TD).
Blue Devils senior defensive back Jaden Turner capped the scoring on the warm night, returning an interception 45 yards for a TD at 5:45 of the fourth quarter.
Libertyville got on the board via a 13-yard pass from sophomore QB Quinn Schambow (16-of-20, 141 yards, TD) to senior Nate Kallas with 58 ticks left in the third quarter.
Junior wide receiver Luca Nikolich paced the Wildcats in receiving yardage (66 yards on 4 grabs), with senior wideout Kristian Gavric right behind him with 5 receptions for 59 yards.
Warren senior lineman Kole Weinberg recorded a first-half sack, classmate Cassius Callahan caught 3 strikes from Behrens for 52 yards.
Libertyville backup quarterback Rocco LaVista rushed for 48 yards on his first 6 keepers.