Conant continues hot run

Updated: September 16, 2011 11:12PM

Conant’s best start since 2003 just got better.

Quarterback Matt Cullen and wide receiver Tim Manczko hooked up on touchdowns of 70 and 9 yards and Conant’s defense sacked Hersey’s Brad Zaucha eight times as the Cougars improved to 4-0 with an 18-7 victory Friday in Hoffman Estates.

Danny Lampert, a 6-foot, 168-pound senior defensive end, led the sack parade with four and linebacker Geno Prestia added three. Conant’s defense also limited Hersey to just three yards on the ground.

“All week in practice we were recognizing really well,” Lampert said. “We knew what was coming, we knew exactly what was coming at us. We were getting through the line, our line’s good, our secondary was locking up back there and making the quarterback hold onto the ball a little bit.

“It’s a good win,” Lampert added. “4-0 feels good.”

Conant led 6-0 at halftime on a 2-yard run by Cordell Smith, but Zaucha found Justin Jobski from 26 yards out late in the third quarter to give the visitors a 7-6 lead.

The lead lasted all of 15 seconds, however. On Conant’s first play following the ensuing kickoff, Manczko took a short pass from Cullen (16 of 23, 229 yards) and broke four tackles to give the Cougars a 12-7 lead.

“We just can’t get down, we just fight and get right back up,” Manczko said. “We know we’re a good team. We know we can come back. We just need to keep our heads on. On that long touchdown play, I just kept running and made a couple of cutbacks...aiming for the end zone.”

Zaucha completed 19 of 31 passes for 177 yards and an interception for Hersey (2-2).

“I’m thoroughly embarrased, ashamed and disappointed with the way our offense played tonight and that’s on me,” Hersey coach Dragan Teonic said. “We were not very good tonight. We did not come with the right kind of intensity and respect for our opponent.”

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