Stevenson’s Foley runs by Libertyville

Updated: September 23, 2011 10:23PM

Kevin Foley was injured the first game of the season. He has worked diligently to make up for the time missed.

The Stevenson senior running back carried 31 times for 130 yards and scored the game’s lone touchdown as the No. 17 host Patriots shut out Libertyville 13-0 to punctuate emotional homecoming festivities Friday night in Lincolnshire.

Stevenson senior quarterback Matt Micucci, who doubles as the team’s kicker, nailed field goals of 28 and 26 yards for the Patriots (4-1, 3-0 North Suburban Lake).

“We worked very hard over the summer to get to this point,” Foley said. “This is our biggest rivalry, and it’s great to get the bucket back.”

Before the game, Stevenson honored retiring Libertyville coach Randy Kuceyeski, who’s battling cancer with a special donation to the University of Chicago Hospitals in his name. “It was a class act,” Kuceyeski said.

“I’ve had a lot of great memories coaching here. Unfortunately my last one is not as good.”

Foley carried 19 times for 84 yards in the first half. He carried the ball nine times for 43 yards on the Patriots‘ opening possession. His three-yard touchdown run on third and goal with 2:52 to play in the first quarter staked the Patriots to the 7-0 lead.

“I have a great offensive line, and most of the time I just follow them, waiting for the holes to open and make my cut,” he said.

On the Patriots’ second scoring drive of the first half, Foley carried the ball eight consecutive plays. After Foley was denied on third down, Micucci nailed his first field goal that extended the Patriots’ advantage to 10-0 at the break.

Kuceyeski inserted Hutch Herchenbach to start the second quarter in an effort to spark the time. “Both of our quarterbacks [starter Jack Deichl] are equal, and I was just trying to get something going. Field position really was the key to the game. They had great field position in the first half and ours was lousy,” Kuceyeski said.

Stevenson’s only downside was fumbling inside the Libertyville’s 5-yard line late in the third quarter that Libertyville recovered for a touchback. After the Patriots’ defense held, Micucci drilled his second field goal to complete the scoring.

Libertyville (3-2, 1-1) had its best scoring drive at the start of the fourth quarter. Herchenbach mounted a 17-play, 77-yard drive that stalled at the Patriots’ 3-yard line as Stevenson pressure forced consecutive incomplete passes that ended the threat.

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