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Stevenson rolls over Zion-Benton

On the first play of Stevenson's home football game against Zion-Benton Thursday night, Stevenson senior running back Tristan Moskovic got separated from his helmet.

He gained 6 yards.

He lost a piece of equipment, temporarily.

Hats off to Stevenson, after its 34-6 North Suburban Conference victory in frigid Lincolnshire. The Patriots (2-1) certainly deserved the gesture, especially defensive whiz and relentless senior linebacker Daniel Orgler, sure-handed senior wideout Jayden McFadden (4 receptions, 165 yards, TD), senior quarterback Liam Crawley (223 yards passing, 2 TDs) and Moskovic (1 rushing TD, 1 TD reception).

But it took a while for Stevenson to get going.

The Patriots led only 7-6 in the final minute of the first half.

"Sloppy first half," admitted Orgler, who recorded a sack, tackled a Zee-Bee for a 3-yard loss, caused a fumble and batted away a pass near the line of scrimmage. "We needed a big moment to get us going in the second half, any kind of big moment.

"Our coaches did a good job of motivating us at the half, and our seniors ... well, it's a class with a lot of heart. And we're family."

The big moment after halftime: Crawley's 80-yard TD pass to McFadden at the 7:43 mark of the third quarter after a holding penalty had negated a first-down run by senior running back Andrew Miller. The Roosevelt University-bound McFadden gathered in a lengthy toss from his QB and outraced Z-B's secondary from there.

The hosts then scored TDs on their next two possessions to up the unanswered total to 27.

"We need to clean some things up," Stevenson coach Brent Becker said after his squad "won" the fumbles-lost battle 4-3.

Zion-Benton (1-2), which beat Waukegan 44-0 last weekend, was paced by junior running back La'Zarius Geater (17 rushes, 121 yards, 27-yard TD run).

Stevenson limited the Zee-Bees' pair of quarterbacks to a combined 2-of-16 passing for 17 yards.

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