Lake Zurich gains revenge vs. Fremd

Lake Zurich running back Andrew Maloney turns the corner against Fremd during the first quarter.
(Scott Powers/For the Sun-Times)

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Lake Zurich got more than an opening-night win by upsetting No. 10 Fremd 33-21 at home on Friday.

The Bears got themselves some respect and revenge.

The respect came as although Lake Zurich was the defending 7A state champs, few gave the Bears a chance Friday or down the road this season.

"We’re tired of people overlooking us," Lake Zurich senior Andrew Maloney said. "We had to make a statement."

The second part -- the revenge -- was for Fremd providing the Bears the lone blemish on their record last season. On opening night last year, the Vikings upset Lake Zurich with a last-minute drive. Lake Zurich went on to win the rest of its game.

"It’s really exciting to come out and beat them after they beat us last year," Maloney said.

Maloney, a running back, played a major part in that. He scored a career-high three touchdowns, including two in the second half. He finished with 33 yards.

Fremd’s Evan Wright provided his team the bulk of its offense. He ran back two kickoffs for touchdowns. The first was 89 yards on the game’s opening kicking. The second was good for 90 yards in the second half.

"We didn’t want the ball first, so I decided to take it the house," said Wright of the game-opening kickoff return.

Fremd quarterback Michael Tauchman scored the Vikings only other touchdown on a one-yard sneak in the second half.

The Vikings’ offense struggled otherwise. They were forced to punt seven times.

Fremd wide receiver Andrew Corso caught a game-high seven passes for 130 yards.

Lake Zurich linebacker Ricky Erickson put the Bears ahead 20-7 to start the second half with a 40-yard interception return.