North Shore ready for title showdown

It will be a showdown in when North Shore Country Day (8-0) squares off against Mooseheart (8-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Winnetka, with the victor staking claim to the Northeastern Athletic Conference championship.

During their eight wins, the Raiders have breezed through their opponents, while Mooseheart edged Hope Academy 13-12 Friday night at Niles North. NSCD set up the title matchup by defeating Longwood Academy 26-6.

The Raiders’ defense ruled the explosive Panthers’ offense. Longwood — minus injured running back Stephen Dunmars — was unable to establish a consistent ground attack. The Panthers totaled 109 yards, including 15 yards of passing.

“The total defensive effort was excellent,” said North Shore coach Jim Deuble. “We held them to just one completion. The defense set up our offense through the game with fine field position.”

North Shore’s ground game steamrolled the Panthers’ defense for 314 yards. Ayo Okesanya had his best offensive game of the season, rushing for 247 yards on 22 carries. Quarterback Steve Smith kept the Raiders’ air game attack with three touchdowns passes, and he ran for one as well. Smith’s 2-yard TD run put NSCD on the scoreboard in the first quarter.

An alert Raiders defense took control of the second quarter when middle linebacker/left offensive tackle Sam Tullman recovered a Longwood fumble. Following the turnover, North Shore extended its lead to 14-0 when Smith launched a 34-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Austin Curren, who out-jumped his defender in the end zone.

The Raiders didn’t let up. Zach March caught a screen pass from Smith and raced 33 yards to put North Shore ahead 20-0 at halftime.

North Shore began to play giveaway in the third quarter. The Panthers’ Tyler Robinson scooped up a lateral and ran 45 yards for a touchdown, trimming the margin to 20-6.

Momentum continued in Longwood’s favor when North Shore fumbled again, and the Panthers recovered. Two plays later, Longwood quarterback Tevin Akis lost control of a pitch, and North Shore took over.

In the final period, Smith (8-of-20) fired a 7-yard TD pass to Elias Butler.

“The offensive line, all season, has given Smith outstanding protection and opened some big holes,” Tullman said. “I feel a lot of our success on offense and defense is due to our assistant coaches. On offense, Fred Miller and Jason Hahnstadt, and on defense, Adam Mangana. Their schemes are well-designed.”

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