Zurek scores four touchdowns in Andrean’s win over Highland

Updated: September 24, 2011 3:12PM

HIGHLAND — Andrean’s Mason Zurek didn’t sound like a player who scored four rushing touchdowns as he stood on the field with his helmet off and the rain pouring down following the 59ers’ 62-18 Northwest Crossroads Conference win over Highland on Friday night on the road.

Instead, he was apologetic and almost embarrassed talking about his effort.

“I did not play well. I feel bad for my team,” said Zurek, who led the team with 13 carries for 108 yards. “I kind of owed it to the JV because they busted their hearts out on the scout team. I didn’t play for them; I played for myself and I played terrible.”

True, the area’s leading rusher didn’t get his typical 10 yards per carry when he had the football. And true, Zurek was stopped five times for two yards or less. But he tied a career-high with four touchdowns and got over the 100-yard mark.

Besides, the 6-foot, 195-pound senior is one of the most explosive backs in the area and will see defenses play eight in the box to stop him.

Still, it wasn’t enough on Friday as Zurek got things rolling for the offense scoring from 12 yards out with 8:17 left in the first quarter. Dan Wirtz kicked the extra point to give the 59ers a 7-0 lead.

Brian Wojciechowski put Andrean (6-0, 3-0) back on the scoreboard on the first play from scrimmage in the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Matt DeSomer hit the 5-10, 185-pound senior for a 33-yard scoring strike.

Highland (1-5, 0-3) answered right back as Justin Thiele crossed the end zone on his own 33-yard TD reception from Gunner Grider with 9:12 left in the second quarter.

Andrean coach Phil Mason said he thought his team might get off to a slow start on Friday and he was right.

“It was (a slow start) but we’re just working on getting better on things,” he said. “We’ve really emphasized getting better at the passing game. And it was sharp tonight. I don’t know what he had numbers-wise but I thought (DeSomer) threw the ball well.”

“We’ve got to get that box opened up. We’ve got to get that aspect of our game going and I think it is coming. He’s got the tools. They are flat out there. Our kids have to catch it and he’s got to get comfortable. I think he’s going to be a great quarterback. He’s a smart kid and a strong kid.”

That “smart kid” helped get things going for the 59ers after the defense allowed the Highland TD. DeSomer, who finished 8-for-11 with 125 yards and two touchdowns, led three straight scoring drives to conclude the first half — including a 47-yard TD to senior Brandon Pavlina — as Andrean put together an insurmountable 35-7 halftime lead.

DeSomer didn’t have to attempt another pass the rest of the game.

On the other sideline, Grider finished 8-for-18 for Highland with 128 yards. He completed one touchdown pass and tossed one interception that was returned for a TD by Andrean’s Kyle Lesch.

Andrean plays Kankakee Valley next Friday before facing Griffith at home on Oct. 7. Mason said his team had better be fired up for the Panthers.

“What’s ironic is we’ve been out of the gates quickly in the past,” he said. “But we’ll figure this out. It will be nice in a couple weeks to have Griffith and Lowell. Those games will have a lot of meaning. We have big plans and, as long as we stay healthy and we keep getting better, I think good things will happen.”

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