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Football: Lake Zurich edges out Elk Grove
Updated: November 14, 2011 10:19AM
Running room was sparse all afternoon. When the monster hole presented itself, Mike Shield knew he better scoot through it.
The Lake Zurich running back exploded for 53 yards late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s IHSA Class 7A quarterfinal against visiting Elk Grove. Two plays later, the Bears scored a touchdown to essentially seal a 17-10 victory.
Shield provided the knockout punch by taking a third-and-8 down to the Elk Grove 5-yard line.
“I just saw the opening,” said Shield of his sweep to the right. “It was probably the first big hole we had all game. I knew I had to capitalize on the opportunity.”
Bears quarterback Steven Kuhn scored on a 3-yard run to boost the lead to 17-3.
“That drive goes to Mike and the offensive line for blocking so well,” said Kuhn, praising the work of linemen Evan Williams, Jerry Bauer, Jack Sweeney, Matt Schirmann and Taylor Coleman.
Lake Zurich (10-2) marches on to the semifinal round. The Bears will travel to Rockford to take on 12-0 Rockford Boylan next weekend.
Elk Grove (10-2) refused to go quietly. The Grenadiers marched 80 yards in 15 plays to make it a 17-10 game. Quarterback Dejan Basara (14-for-22, 111 yards) flipped a 3-yard touchdown pass to Darren Little with 28 seconds left in the game.
Any hope of a miracle comeback ended when the onside kick bounced out of bounds.
The Bears controlled the game throughout the first half. The hosts grabbed a 10-0 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Mike Leiva and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kuhn to Jack Lynn.
But the victors were not satisfied, as the Bears committed three turnovers (all lost fumbles).
“We were not fundamentally sound,” said Shield, who had 98 yards on 20 carries. “It was an all-around sloppy game.”
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