Motley collects 14 tackles in 14-6 setback to Grant

Glen Kozlowski was eager to talk about November in October.

"That's the month ... that's when it all starts," Wauconda High School's football coach said last weekend. "The successful kids lift hard then, start working out hard for the next football season."

John Motley's second home since last November has been the weight room. Wauconda's 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior linebacker/wideout amassed a team-high 14 tackles and caught two passes for 44 yards in Saturday's 14-6 loss to host Grant.

"He was rewarded for all that hard work when his teammates picked him as one of our captains," Kozlowski said. "He shows up every week for us. He lifted, ran often; he's at where he is today because he paid the price in the offseason."

Grant (6-1, 4-1) won the battle of Bulldogs Saturday after scoring touchdowns on its first two possessions. Wauconda (3-4, 2-2) tallied its lone TD right before the half, on a short toss from senior quarterback Garrett Dorsey to senior wideout Nick Jay.

"Our defense played well in the second half, and we had opportunities -- good ones -- to score," Kozlowski said. "We lost to a team we were better than, but when you win, you get to say you're the better team."

Grant's defense stuffed a 4th-and-3 running play from its 35-yard line after the half; Wauconda went four and out from the host's 9; and Wauconda fumbled the ball away at Grant's 23 in the fourth quarter.

Grant then held the ball for four minutes, leaving Wauconda with only 17 seconds to attempt a game-tying drive.

"Grant did make plays, more plays than we did, and we didn't play particularly well," Kozlowski admitted. "They controlled the ball when they needed to control the ball."

Grant has allowed an NSC Prairie-low 92 points after seven games.

Wauconda senior running back Sean Lichterman rushed 21 times for 81 yards Friday night; Dorsey was an efficient 8-of-14 for 101 yards; and Bulldogs senior wideout Dalton Cuchna came down with three receptions for 43 yards.

Kozlowski's club entertains Vernon Hills on Friday night and closes the regular season against visiting North Chicago on Oct. 24. It needs to go 2-0 to make the playoffs.

Round two of the postseason?

That takes place in ... November.