Meeks, Bulldogs battle hard in 3-point loss

Wauconda halfback Sean Lichterman runs over a Vernon Hills tackler in Friday's battle. The Bulldogs lost the NSC Prairie contest 24-21.
(MICHELLE LAVIGNE/Staff Photographer)

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It's hard to separate Wauconda High School senior linebacker/defensive end David Meeks and the sport of football.

The Bulldog loves it, has religiously dedicated himself to it since his freshman year.

See weight room.

See Meeks in it, 2-3 hours a day.

It's easy to sit out games after separating a shoulder.

But Meeks has been playing hurt since suffering such an injury on Sept. 27 against Antioch. The thought of missing a football game his senior year absolutely horrifies him.

"No way," said the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder. "If I can play, I'm playing. Football has been a main focus. It has driven me, has helped me in a lot of areas. I've learned so much from my coaches; I've learned to accept responsibility, play hard for my team.

"It's been pretty difficult, the injury," he added. "It's taken its toll."

Meeks, bum wing and all, somehow managed to record 10 tackles -- three for loss -- in a 24-21 loss to visiting Vernon Hills on Friday night. But he would've traded all those stops for a win because the loss knocked Wauconda out of playoff contention.

"I've liked everything about David from Day One," Bulldogs football coach Glen Kozlowski said. "He's been lifting hard, working hard, doing everything he can to build himself into the football player he has become for our program.

"For the rest of his life," he added, "David will understand the importance of commitment, hard work and teamwork because of football."

But he probably won't be able to inhale three peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches a day -- part of his diet these days -- after the age of 30 and expect to lead a waddle-free life.

"Love them. Love eating those," said Meeks, a 5-4, 130-pounder gridder when he was a freshman. "Mom makes them for me."

Wauconda (3-5, 2-3) made a costly turnover Friday against VH. A Cougar returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. That score was sandwiched around a pair of fourth-quarter Wauconda TDs -- 22- and 2-yard passes from Garrett Dorsey to Dalton Cuchna.

"We never gave up, played hard until the last tick of the clock," Kozlowski said. "All year we've played that way. We just didn't make plays late, but not because of a lack of effort."

VH (7-1, 4-1) led 10-6 at the half; Dorsey entered the end zone after a 2-yard run with 46 ticks left in second quarter.

Wauconda junior defensive lineman Bradon Prate also finished with 10 tackles Friday night. Bulldogs senior RB Sean Lichterman rushed 22 times for 101 yards.