BG's Homecoming Game Goes Wheeling's Way

It was throw out the records night in Buffalo Grove. Both visiting and home-standing rode into Friday night's Homecoming game nursing six-game losing streaks. So something, outside of tie, had to give.

Wheeling (2-6) used the hard running of senior Ed Scanlon to add to Buffalo Grove's losing steak. The Wildcats pulled away from a 12-7 halftime lead to post a 31-14 road win over the Bison.

No team wants a seven-game losing, streak but there was some promising news coming from the Buffalo Grove passing attack. Especially that Richard Zirngibl to Ryan Schumi connection. Those two players hooked up on 10 passes on this night.

"Wheeling did a nice job of taking away our running game,'' BG football coach Jim Farrell said. "We like to establish the run so they forced Rich to pass."

Farrell had to raise his voice after this loss, not out of anger, but in an attempt to drown out the post-game fireworks display. The disappointed players watched the impressive show.

So after an opening day win over an impressive Lake Forest squad, the Bison (1-7) have fallen on hard times.

"We had some personal fouls,'' Farrell said. "We had some holding calls."

Despite a second half that saw the Wildcats go on a 20-0 run, the Bison don't seem ready to call this a season just yet.

"I'm really proud of the way this group keeps fighting,'' Farrell said. "The kids are still coming to practice ready to go."

Of course, injuries have taken a toll on this team. Farrell reports his club has lost six players.

"But this gives other guys some opportunities,'' he said.

Recap: Wheeling quarterback Tyler Brady scored the game's first touchdown, but the Bison trailed only 6-0 heading to the second quarter. It was 12-0 late in the second quarter. And then the passing attack of Buffalo Grove kicked in.

Zirngibl (15-29, 199 yards, 1 int) began to warm up through the air. Five passes on this 73-yard march went to Ryan Schumi. Two more went to Jordan Rathje. The big play on this drive was a 27-yard pass play to Schumi that came on a 3rd-down and 14 play. Zirngibl did the honors on a 1-yard TD run. Kevin Cho's extra point put the Bison down just 12-7 at haltime.

Disaster struck the home team when the second half opened. BG opened its first drive on its own 20-yard line. They ended up punting deep in the end zone after the ball settled down on their own 1-yard line. Wheeling took only four plays to score to make it 18-7.

Wheeling scored twice in the fourth quarter, both aided by quarterback Brady. He ran in one touchdown and threw another one to receiver Charlie Kirk.

Seemingly out of this contest, the Bison still had one more score left. The big play of the contest came in the final two minutes. Zirngibl unleashed a 53-yard pass play to tight end Ryan Inlow. One play later, his 9-yard TD pass went to Schumi.

BG's season closes Oct. 21 when Prospect (4-4) invades at 7:30 p.m.