New Trier still searching for first league win

Updated: October 3, 2011 6:58PM

For the second week in a row, New Trier lost an early lead — and then the football game.

The Trevians now find themselves tied for last in CSL South play at 0-2, and will look to get out the hole when they visit Niles West, also 0-2 in league play, Thursday.

“We are frustrated,” New Trier coach Dan Starkey said after Friday’s 21-10 loss to No. 25-ranked Glenbrook South. “We’re getting closer, though.”

New Trier started Friday’s game with an 18-play scoring drive that lasted over 10 minutes, and ended with Grant Amick’s 28-yard field goal. The Trevians then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, but that’s where the offense stalled.

New Trier’s next four possessions of the first half included three punts, a turnover and zero first downs as the Titans built a 14-3 advantage that probably seemed insurmountable.

“We controlled the ball the entire first quarter,” Starkey said. “We had that great drive, and then the fumble. Maybe we could have gone up 10-0, but we (didn’t) get anything else out of it.”

New Trier didn’t get its next first down until late in the second quarter. The Trevians took advantage, too, ending the series with a 9-yard TD run by Daniel Olaniyan four seconds into the fourth quarter.

But the Titans responded right away. Kevin Schroeder scored his third TD of the game on a 3-yard run with nine minutes to go in the fourth.

“I thought it was a great start for us because we kept the ball away from them,” Starkey said. “We just ended up making too many mistakes. It seems like we have 10 players doing their assignments and one player who’s not. That’s hurting us a little bit. We have enough talent to play with anybody.”

Olaniyan finished with 99 yards rushing on 18 carries. Meanwhile, Jack Nykaza had one of his worst games, finishing 10-for-25 for 99 yards and two interceptions.

Starkey remains hopeful the Trevians will turn the corner.

“We have good leadership,” the coach said. “The seniors do a great job, and they are hungry to do well. Niles West played us tough last year, but I think our players are ready to step up to the challenge.”

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