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Saxons edge out New Trier late
New Trier's head coach, Dan Starkey, watches as the Trevians take on Schaumburg during their football game on Friday, August 26th. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media
Updated: August 27, 2011 12:31AM
The 2010-2011 school year was a big one for New Trier athletics. Five teams won state titles to go along with four titles in individual sports as well.
So it was safe to say that expectations were high as the Trevians took on Schaumburg Friday night Robert Naughton Stadium.
It was the Saxons who came out firing on their opening drive scoring in just three plays with junior QB Nick Anzelmo connecting on a 76-yard pass to senior receiver Mike Mallett en route to a 22-17 win over New Trier.
New Trier had difficulty moving the ball in the first quarter with their only significant drive stalled by two costly penalties, especially a holding call that negated a long run by senior QB Jack Nykaza that would have put the Trevians in the red zone.
Both teams would go scoreless the remainder of the first quarter and almost four minutes into the second until Schaumburg tacked on a field goal with 8:45 left in the half that made the score 10-0. The Saxons continued their dominance and were on the verge of driving downfield again but a blocked FG gave the Trevians the ball at their own 13 with under four minutes remaining in the half. New Trier’s next possession would result in a field goal.
Following another costly Trevian turnover to open the half on a Nykaza interception, the Saxons found themselves in the red zone, where Anzelmo ran in from 7 yards out. The extra point was no good It was at this time with the team down 13 and needing to put points on the board, that the Trevians began to show signs of life.
Running an option-style offense, New Trier lay heavily on junior RB Daniel Olaniyan and Nykaza. Olaniyan, who didn’t see any action in the first half, ran the ball three straight times on two separate occasions earning the team crucial first downs. Following a kickoff return that started them at their own 42, the Trevians used a combination of runs by Olaniyan and Nykaza to bring them down to the 7-yard line. It was Nykaza’s run on a keeper that gave New Trier its first TD of the season.
After having to punt the ball away back to New Trier, the Trevians drove the ball 10 plays including a crucial fourth-down conversion when Nykaza converted on 4th and 11 on a 28-yard pass to Eric Benjamin that brought the ball to the Saxons 8. Two plays later, it was Nykaza again with the TD as he faked the handoff and ran the ball up the middle and for the first time all game, New Trier had the lead 17-16.
The game came down to the Trevians’ final possession in which they started at their own 40-yard line with 3:54 remaining in the 4th quarter. New Trier would get to its opponents 8-yard line, but would fail to convert on fourth down.
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