Lakes ties school record with sixth win

The visiting Lakes Eagles tied a school record for wins in a season (six) as they routed North Chicago 42-8 on Friday in a North Suburban Conference Prairie Division football game.

The Eagles (6-2) scored six touchdowns on 21 plays in the first 16:50 of the contest before reserves flooded the field.

Running back Direll Clark rushed seven times for 144 yards and had TD runs of 87, three and 30 yards.

Chris Hoffman threw a 57-yard TD pass to Justin Bergeron to open the scoring, and Andrew Spencer and Sam Lochner each scored on runs early in the second quarter.

North Chicago’s bench was directed by assistant coaches. Head coach Glen Kozlowski had to miss the game because he was ejected from last week’s game against Grant.

Warhawk sophomore QB Arnold Shead played wide receiver in the game because of sore ribs.

North Chicago got its points on a 4-yard pass from QB Abel Williams to Shead.

Lakes coach Luke Mertens was happy with the team’s effort.

“I am very proud of where we are as a program,” he said. “We’re ahead of the curve for a football program that’s just started out — four times in the playoffs in six years ... third time in a row.”

The Eagles can actually tie for the division with Grant and Antioch by winning their final game, which is against Round Lake. The three league powers all went 1-1 against each other.

“Seven wins would be a accomplishment,” added Mertens, adding that a seventh win could give the Eagles a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

North Chicago concludes its season next Friday against Antioch (7-1).

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