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Lake Zurich inches closer to playoffs with win over Mundelein

Bears score 23 unanswered to top Mundelein in key matchup

Lake Zurich moved a step closer to a playoff spot with a 30-7 victory over host Mundelein in a North Suburban Conference game on Friday night.

The Bears (3-3, 2-2) scored 23 unanswered points to roll away with the key win.

"It was tough. Mundelein is building a program and is on the rise," Lake Zurich coach Ron Planz said. "I was glad that our guys rose to the challenge. This wasn't Mundelein that they thought they were playing. I'm just glad our kids played hard."

Lake Zurich found a touchdown on a short field in the final minute of the second quarter that put it ahead for good. Quarterback Jarred Meyers scored on a 15-yard rushing touchdown with 42 seconds left for a 14-7 lead.

"It was huge, after we had two unforced errors with interceptions," Planz said. "Just was completely our fault. Game always changes the tempo a bit. Defense was great and kept Mundelein out of it. That score was huge for momentum for us."

Tyler Erkman set up the score with a 27-yard kickoff return to the 35-yard line of Mundelein and the Bears were set up.

"It was a lot of fun to have a chance to play in front of our fans," said Erkman, who also had an interception on defense and set up a couple of scores on catches on long passes into the red zone. "It was an all-around team win."

Meyers added two other rushing touchdowns as each were from a yard out. Ben Cooper scored on a 6-yard rushing TD and Danny Vuckovic made a 48-yard field goal.

Mundelein (2-4, 2-2) got its score on Amari Rhinehart's 5-yard run into the end zone in the second quarter.

"We just gave (Lake Zurich) a chance to score late in the second quarter and they punched it in," Mundelein coach Vince DeFrancesco said. "That gave them momentum going into the half."

  Lake Zurich's Ben Cooper takes the handoff from Jarred Meyers for a long run in the first half on Friday's game in Mundelein. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein's Brock Paluch is tackled by Lake Zurich's Calen Grabowski in a football game in Mundelein on Friday, October 1, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein's Monte Alemu is tackled by Lake Zurich's Nicholas Alvey in a football game in Mundelein on Friday, October 1, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein's Brock Paluch passes against Lake Zurich during Friday's game. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Lake Zurich's Jarred Meyers rolls into the end zone for a touchdown in a football game in Mundelein on Friday, October 1, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Lake Zurich's Calen Grabowski slows down Mundelein's Omari Rhinehart so teammate Spencer Kuehl can tackle him in a football game in Mundelein on Friday, October 1, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Mundelein's Omari Rhinehart runs against Lake Zurich in a football game in Mundelein on Friday, October 1, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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