Niles North tops rival West

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:20PM

Niles North's Myron Johnson is built like a lineman, actually

plays fullback but put up halfback-like numbers to lead the Vikings to

victory in Saturday's Skokie Skirmish at Niles West.

The 5-foot-9, 215-pound senior carried 15 times for 152 yards, scoring three

touchdowns, including a 72-yarder, in North's 24-15 win on its rival's home

field. Johnson also scored on runs of 22 yards and one yard.

North (1-1) bounced back from a 41-0 opening night loss at Elk Grove.

"I'm proud of the kids. Last week was tough. Elk Grove was a good team, but

we didn't execute and play very well," North head coach Scott Smith said.

"But the seniors took it to heart, had a great week of practice and came

away with a nice victory."

The Vikings defense actually gave up just one touchdown, and it came on a

Niles West drive that began at the North 16-yard line. Sunil Rehmani, Zach

Hess and Sergio Benitez all had interceptions for North.

West (0-2) was forced to play without first-string quarterback Seve

Loubriel, who sat out after suffering a concussion in the team's 46-0

season-opening loss at Vernon Hills.

Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, West speedster Santiago Ochoa returned

a kickoff 75 yards before being tackled inside North 20-yard line. Two plays

later, junior Lavelle Jordan scored on a 13-yard run to get the Wolves back

into the game.

North senior George Neuhaus added a 27-yard field goal in the third to put

his team up by 10, 17-7. The Vikings' next possession was an 11-play,

64-yard drive that culminated in Johnson's 1-yard touchdown run, which made

the score 24-7.

Late in the game, North was close to scoring again, but Johnson fumbled

inside the West 10-yard line. Wolves senior Hantac Chang scooped up the ball

and ran it back to midfield before handing it off to Ochoa. The defensive

back/receiver, who was part of two state championship relays at the IHSA

State Track Meet last spring, took it the rest of the way for the score with

2:32 left.

West converted the two-point conversion and then recovered the ensuing

onside kick. But a pick by North's Benitez ended any chances of a late

comeback by the home team.

"Santiago (Ochoa) is a phenomenal football player and a great athlete. He

has the (track state championship) medals to prove it," West head coach

Scott Baum said. "You wish we had 11 of him. We don't. "

North visits Evanston at 7:30 p.m. Friday. West hosts Maine East at 7 p.m.

the same night.

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