Niles North edges rival, thanks to defense

Updated: September 5, 2011 2:00PM

Three years after Niles North and Niles West played the seventh-highest scoring game in state history (a 64-63 North win in 2008), the teams’ most recent meeting had a decidedly different feel.

On Monday, Niles North linebacker Romeo Montiel tackled Niles West running back Jake Glotzer for a safety early in the fourth quarter as the host Vikings won the 2011 Skokie Skirmish 2-0. The game had been suspended during the first half Saturday because of lightning.

North (1-1) has now won five straight games over its cros-town rival.

“It was an intense game,” North coach Scott Smith said. “We felt they couldn’t move the ball against us. Even after the first half on Saturday. This is two weeks in a row that we’ve played really good defense. That’s a defensive win. People are going to do a double-take when they look in the paper at that score. Niles West made some (offensive) adjustments (between Saturday and Monday), but our defense did really well.”

The Vikings held the Wolves to 91 total yards. Niles North defensive backs Colin Hancock and Kyle Codd each had an interception.

On Niles West’s last play of the contest, a fourth-and-10 from near midfield, North defensive tackle James Edmond stopped Glotzer behind the line of scrimmage

West (1-1) started with good field position for much of the game, but was unable to capitalize. The Wolves missed a 33-yard field goal attempt late in the third quarter.

“(North) came out and did enough to win a football game,” West coach Scott Baum said. “I thought our defense did a phenomenal job. Offensively, we just made too many mistakes. It cost us a game today.”

In a game of oddities, one of West’s biggest highlights turned out to be its undoing. On the first play of the fourth, North quarterback Mychael Henley, relieving the injured Billy Voitik, had his long pass intercepted by the Wolves’ Tommy Williams at the goal line.

But West took over from the 1-yard line and Glotzer was tackled for a safety on the next play.

Both teams now have a short week. North hosts Waukegan at 7:30 p.m. Friday, while West travels to Maine West at 7:30 p.m. the same night.

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