Bearcats roll to set up GSSC title game

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VALPARAISO -- It was one of those nights for Wheeler quarterback Mike DeSimone. He and his offensive line were fired up, and it showed in a 59-27 rout of Bishop Noll.

His first play from scrimmage was a 66-yard pass over the middle to Josh Holmes. It set up Mitchell Voss' school-record 49-yard field goal, a liner that hit the crossbar.

The 5-foot-6 DeSimone hit seven of his first nine passes. At the half he was 9-of-16 for a whopping 333 yards and four TDs.

Class 2A No. 9 Wheeler led Bishop Noll 52- 13 at the break.

The win sets up next Friday's showdown for the Greater South Shore Conference crown with Calumet (7-1, 6-0). Despite giving up its most points all year (two TDs in the last 3:42 vs. reserves), Wheeler is 8-0, 6-0.

As if the Bearcats need more incentive, next week is homecoming and Senior Night.

Senior leaders DeSimone and RB Clay Duarte (four TDs, 156 yards rushing) made sure to praise their blockers. Duarte even gave a fiery pre-game pep talk to offensive linemen Alex Vives, David Hyman, Zach Handley, Dan Wall and Colin Gallagher.

"There's been talk that we can't compete with bigger schools because our linemen can't handle it," Duarte said. "That's ridiculous. We have the size and talent; we just lack depth. I told 'em don't listen to that crap."

The line helped DeSimone tie his career high for TD passes (five), set last year against Highland.

"They did a great job," he said. "We wanted to make a statement." He fired for three scores of 50-plus yards. "James Schaffer (50 yards) ran a crisp route, (Josh) Luna burned their DB bad (57) and Duarte did it all on his 57-yarder on a screen."

The slippery Duarte made great cutbacks and broke tackles several times.

"Check me out, no oil," he grinned.

He scored on runs of 18, 9 and 11 yards.

"We've been working on a good mix offensively so we can be multifaceted," Wheeler coach Dan Klimczak said. "We have lots of weapons, shown by 52 points in a half. Noll couldn't match up."

The defense also did its part. Senior Tom Wilk had two of Wheeler's four interceptions. Kyle Kellar's pick and 31-yard return for a TD made it 31-0 early in the second. He read the pass perfectly.

"They made great plays," Klimczak said. "They were telegraphing (plays) and we told 'em to sit on (the routes)."

Noll senior QB Eric Escamilla threw for 275 yards but completed just 19-of-50 throws. His four TDs included two late tosses of 12 and 20 yards to Ryan Eger.

Jeff Smith caught a 20-yard score and Brendan O'Neil a 9-yarder. Scott Upshaw Jr. ran 23 times for 111 yards.

Voss, with one of the area's strongest legs, said his fields goal was "on line. I was so relieved when it went over."

The old mark was 42 yards. He boomed a 65-yarder in practice, Klimczak said.