Rams top Knights in intracity game

Grayslake North student fans (front from left) Clayton Seno, A.J. Will, and Jake Squillaci drum beat on a grill lid and yell for their team Friday night in a big game against Grayslake Central.
(Michael Schmidt/News-Sun)

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After a wild first half filled with plenty of offense, Grayslake Central's defense proved to be the difference in the second half as the Rams pulled out a 35-21 over intracity rival Grayslake North on Friday.

The Rams (1-7 overall, 1-3 in the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division) won their first game of the season, while the Knights dropped to 0-8, 0-4.

It was a standoff in the first half, as David Tajnai's 20-yard touchdown reception from Grayslake Central quarterback Kevin O'Rourke with 1:02 remaining tied the game at 21-21 at the break (along with a Mike Gentile 2-point conversion pass to O'Rourke).

The Rams struck first in the contest when Cassidy Melton (214 yards, 22 carries) rippe d off a 52-yard TD run for a 7-0 lead.

The Knights countered when Mike Morales capped off a 9-play, 65-yard drive with a 1-yard run to tie the game at 7-7.

O'Rourke plunged in from 1-yard out with 1:13 left in the first quarter to put Grayslake Central ahead again at 13-7.

Grayslake North took a 14-13 lead after a 63-yard drive which ended on Sean Brennan's 1-yard run.

The Knights increased their lead to 21-13 when Glenn Mizowek ripped off a 95-yard TD run with 2:25 left in the second quarter.

After gaining 169 yard rushing in the first half, Mizowek was held to just five yards in the second half as the Rams' defense took control of the game.

After a scoreless third quarter, Grayslake Central took the lead for good when O'Rourke finished a 7-play, 72-yard drive with an 18-yard TD scramble on a rollout to put his team ahead 28-21 with 9:20 left to play.

A few plays later, junior lineman Angelo Gargano picked off a pass and rambled 38 yards for a score and a 35-21 lead.

On Grayslake North's next possession, Gargano intercepted another pass to help the Rams seal the victory.

Grayslake Central will wrap up its regular season next Friday at FVC Fox power Prairie Ridge (5-3, 3-1), while Grayslake North will try to win its first game at Crystal Lake Central.