Maine South storms back, tops New Trier

Updated: September 24, 2011 10:10AM

Dave Inserra entered Friday’s game 50-0 in the CSL South.

The Maine South coach went into halftime down 10 points to New Trier, and his Hawks looked listless.

Whatever Inserra and his coaching staff said at the break should be sold as an inspirational video.

No. 1 Maine South scored 26 unanswered points in the second half to earn a 40-24 victory over the Trevians in Northfield.

“They told us to pick our heads up,” senior linebacker Luke Lenti said of the halftime talk. “We weren’t playing Maine South football.”

The Hawks (5-0 overall, 1-0 CSL South) stopped the Trevians (3-2, 0-1) on three downs to start the second half and followed with a score on Matt Alviti’s six-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Frankos.

Maine South’s defense forced two more three-and-outs in a row, the second highlighted by a blocked punt, and recovered a fumble on another possession. Alviti responded by throwing three more touchdown passes — all to different receivers — to put the game out of reach.

“This was not expected,” Lenti said of having to come from behind to beat the Trevians.

New Trier was the last team to beat Maine South in conference play with its win in 2000, the final season for coach Phil Hopkins, who won the program’s first two state championships.

The Trevians appeared poised for the upset Friday, scoring on their first possession and leading by 10 twice in the first half. Daniel Olaniyan ran for 143 yards, which included a 73-yard touchdown run, in the first half. The junior was limited to 22 yards in the final two quarters.

Quarterback Jack Nykaza scored two of the team touchdown in the first half, while Grant Amick kicked a 27-yard field goal.

“We weren’t ready to play at the start,” Lenti said. “We definitely had to change our attitude.”

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