Mustangs are no match for 'physical' Cats

The members of the Mundelein High School football team must have taken some confidence into Friday's game at Libertyville.

The Mustangs (1-7) were coming off a win over Zion-Benton and have traditionally played well against their neighbors to the east. Additionally, this year's Libertyville team (now 4-4) was under .500 entering the game.

But Mundelein had a rough start, and the game quickly spiraled out of control. The contest ended with a running clock and a 41-0 scoreline in favor of the Wildcats.

"Libertyville was a ton more physical than we were and they attacked us on both sides of the ball," Mundelein head coach Bob Stone said. "They're a good football team, not your average 4-loss team."

The Wildcats scored on their first 5 possessions of the first half. Their 6th drive ended at the Mundelein 9-yard-line when the halftime whistle sounded.

Mundelein's most memorable sequence of the game came on Libertyville's first possession second half. The Mustangs kept Libertyville out of the end zone despite the Wildcats reaching the Mundelein 5.

However, on the next play, Mundelein threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. The running clock began.

Though the result became a foregone conclusion early in the contest, Stone said the loss did give him a chance to make some determinations about certain players.

"With some kids you see how they handle adversity," he said. "For the seniors, it's their second to last game. But for the juniors, you see how they react to the game."

Mundelein had just 94 total yards. Senior quarterback Aaron Metzger showed his mobility at times, gaining 41 yards on the ground.

He hit A.J. Spector for an 15-yard pass on Mundelein's second drive, and later connected with Dan Spillone for a 24-yard completion over the middle.

Linebacker John Pini and lineman Mike Gerton teamed up to sack Libertyville senior quarterback Campbell Stemper on the 4th-and-goal from the 5 on Libertyville's first drive of the second half.

Stone said he was pleased with the play of junior defensive lineman Christian Pedraza and junior defensive back Mike O'Donoghue.

"Christian has been our most consistent defensive lineman. He has another year left and that is something to look forward to," Stone said. "O'Donoghue does it on the defensive and offensive sides of the ball."

The Mustangs will face another tough foe in Friday's season finale at Stevenson (7:30 p.m.). The Patriots (4-4) need a win to earn a playoff berth.

Mundelein graduate Jake Gaebler is currently the leading receiver on the Western Kentucky football team. The former Mustang has 24 catches for 263 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Hilltoppers. WKU is only 2-6, but has lost games to Indiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Ball State.

Against Ball State, which is ranked in the Top 25, Gaebler had 10 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. A photo of Gaebler battling for a pass with a Ball State defensive back appeared in the Oct. 20 edition of Sports Illustrated.