Maine West keeps rolling, outlasts Vernon Hills

Maine West's football team visited Vernon Hills on Friday night with a 6-1 record and not satisfied with having clinched a playoff berth.

The Warriors proved that on a frigid night, winning 59-38 in Central Suburban League North Division action.

The Warriors offense started the game off fast, led by quarterback Danny Kentgen, marching 52 yards in three plays. A pass to Zack Norman went for 36 yards and David Johnson's 13-yard touchdown run stared the scoring.

The Warriors offense was not off the field long thanks to tough Warrior defense, putting together another scoring drive from their own 35 yard line. Eleven plays and 64 yards later, Kentgen plunging into the end zone on a sneak from the Cougars 1 with 4:13 left in the first quarter.

Two plays into the next series, Warriors defensive lineman Rodney Njoku broke into the Cougars backfield forcing and recovering a fumble at the Cougar 2. On the next play, Njoku charged into the end zone on a 2-yard run for a 21-0 lead.

Vernon Hills responded, led by quarterback Thomas Monken, whose poise kept the Cougars in the game. Monken, with several big passes to Jake Pieper and Justin Morris, took the Cougars on a 10-play drive. His 10-yard touchdown pass to Morris with 10:59 in the second quarter made it 21-6.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Warriors' David Jackson ran the ball back to the Cougars' 47. Kentgen eventually hit Jackson on a 35-yard TD toss.

"Our team has been rolling," Jackson said. "We learned from a tough loss and just need to play Maine West football."

Vernon Hills got a 35-yard touchdown pass from Monken to Morris before halftime.

Maine West's Jaden Dolphin had 3 interceptions in the game.

"We just need to play our game," Dolphin said, "focus on Highland Park and then playoffs."

Maine West led 57-26 after three quarters.