Defense leads Bears past Prospect

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:08PM

Lake Zurich linebacker JJ Raffelson and the Bears defense kept Prospect in check in a 14-7 victory Saturday in the Class 7A playoffs in Mount Prospect.

"We just kept reading our keys and going to the ball," Raffelson said. "We knew we had to stop their quarterback and running back and we worked hard in practice to do that."

Lake Zurich (10-1) held Prospect to 73 yards rushing in the first half as the Bears built a 14-0 advantage.

Following a fumble recovery by Taylor Coleman at the Lake Zurich 48, the Bears marched 52 yards in nine plays. Zach Till hooked up with Mike Schnur on a 15-yard touchdown pass to

make it 7-0 with 5:28 left in the first quarter.

It became 14-0 midway through the second quarter when Jacob Brinlee (21 carries, 122 yards) capped a six-play, 72-yard drive with a 15-yard run.

"The first half we were able to run the ball," Brinlee said. "They made some adjustments in the second half and it was much tougher."

Prospect (9-2) got back into the game on the second play of the second half. Steve Dazzo connected with Peter Bonahoom on a 75-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7.

But the Knights couldn't put another scoring drive together from there. Prospect's final two possessions ended with interceptions by Danny Minogue and Grant Soucy.

"It came down to big plays here and there," Lake Zurich coach Bryan Stortz said. "But our defense was able to keep them in check."

It was the final game for Prospect coach Brent Pearlman, who decided to step down as head coach.

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