Frison can’t quite carry Mustangs to victory

Updated: August 30, 2011 6:54PM

Mundelein football coach Bob Stone knew that senior running back LD Frison was a threat to bust longs runs off the edge.

During the Mustangs’ season-opening, 29-20 loss to Wheeling at home on Friday, Frison proved that he’s pretty good up the middle as well. He twice ran for touchdowns between the tackles on counter plays — for 85 yards and 29, respectively — and for good measure, added a 2-yard TD run.

Frison parlayed eight carries into 144 yards overall.

“He’s always had the quickness, but he’s become much better at hitting the hole,” Stone said. “We’ve convinced him that if he runs where we’re supposed to block, it will be a lot easier for him. He’s not the biggest kid in the world (5-foot-8, 150 pounds), but he’s stronger than he looks and can break tackles.”

With his team trailing 14-0, Frison provided the first big offensive highlight of the season with an 85-yard scoring run. Two plays prior, the Mustangs were penalized on the same counter play. Stone had a hunch it would work and he went back to the well.

“As an offensive coach, that’s probably the play I call the most,” Stone said. “There’s always a chance you can catch the defense, and our blocking was very good. He took it up the middle of the field and then bounced it outside.”

Added senior center Jack Craven: “He’s got the breakaway speed to do that. We made a couple of blocks for him. He did the (rest).”

Frison’s first two touchdowns turned a 14-0 deficit into a 14-14 tie.

Game notes: Unfortunately for the Mustangs, they were unable to parlay second-quarter success into the third. Although a bad snap and a penalty pinned Wheeling back on its own 1-yard line, the Wildcats strung together a 99-yard touchdown drive. By the time the Mustangs’ offense was back on the field, less than three minutes remained in the third quarter.

“The hardest thing in football is to drive 99 yards,” Stone said. “Our defense has to figure out a way to get off the field.”  

Although Mundelein is a run-first team, the Mustangs enjoyed plenty of success throwing the ball. Senior quarterback Gable Leppert completed passes to four different receivers. His signature throw was a 28-yard completion to senior Connor O’Donoghue.

“You’d swear we looked like a passing team,” Stone quipped. “He threw some really nice balls, including that one to O’Donoghue on a fade route. It was thrown right to his outside shoulder.”  

Senior wide receiver Dave Tramill impressed Stone with the way he kept working to get open when Leppert was forced to scramble.

“That’s exactly what you want your receivers to do,” Stone said. “He kept plays alive and made himself available.”  

Stone said Craven’s ability to neutralize the nose tackle one-on-one set the tone for Mundelein’s offense.

“There were a lot of plays we could run because he could handle the guy himself,” Stone said.  

Senior linebacker Matt Heppert impressed Stone with the way he attacked.

“He goes hard every play,” Stone said.  

Senior Alex Lamboy came through with an interception on the Mustangs’ 5-yard line.

“I don’t think people will throw at him too much,” Stone said.  

Stat sheet: Leppert completed 10 of 14 passes for 112 yards. Tramill was his favorite target, with four receptions for 52 yards. Frison, Donoghue and Heppert also had catches.

Lamboy and Jake Long each had interceptions.  

Senior Nate Avis and junior Dom Paliani led the Mustangs with six tackles each. Heppert notched five tackles; senior Andy Chernyavskiy and junior Josh Aranda had four apiece. 

In part because of Wheeling’s 99-yard touchdown drive, the Mustangs were outgained 360-268.

Up next: The Mustangs visit perennial power Prairie Ridge at 7:15 p.m. Friday. Prairie Ridge began the season with a 55-12 victory over Glenbard South. 

“They come after you with their option offense and try to pressure you; it will be a heck of a challenge,” Stone said. “Against Wheeling, I liked the way we came back from a 14-0 deficit, and that gave us a real good chance going into the second half. That was the biggest positive.”

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