Kits Sack Kenwood For 2nd Straight Flag Win

Bothered by a persistent knee injury ever since last summer, Nikki Dandelles wasn't sure just how many snaps she'd be able to play this week as Evanston's flag football team opened the 2026 season.

Dandelles was there Thursday night at Lazier Field just when the Wildkits needed her most.

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Dandelles delivered not one --- not two --- but THREE straight quarterback sacks in the fourth quarter as the Kits edged Kenwood Academy 19-13 in a battle of the fledgling sport's heavyweight programs.

Ava Bellis threw a pair of touchdown passes to Harper Wesenberg as Evanston improved to 2-0 on the season. Pass rushers Dandelles (4 sacks) and Astou Cissokho (1 sack) kept Kenwood's outstanding sophomore quarterback, Kerry Hopewell, under control in a matchup that proved worthy of a state championship game.

Bellis' 10-yard touchdown flip to Wesenberg with 4 minutes, 17 seconds left in the game sent the home team into the lead, but a missed PAT pass meant the visiting Broncos still had chance to come-from-behind behind the talented Hopewell.

Dandelles refused to let that happen after the losers moved the ball to their own 45 on the next possession.

Hopewell scrambled for a gain of four yards, but Dandelles used her quickness, determination and guile to rack up consecutive sacks shoving the offense back a total of 14 yards. ETHS ran out the clock after that turnover on downs and dropped the Broncos to 0-2 on the young season.

Dandelles and Cissokho are being counted on to pick up the slack for the team's designated rusher from a year ago, Camille Calixte, who may miss the entire season after tearing a ligament in her hand.

"What was I thinking there at the end? I was thinking that flag (on Hopewell's hip) is mine, that flag is mine, give it all you've got. Run like a bat out of hell to get it," said Dandelles, who plays with a brace on her left knee.

"This started back in late May. The doctor recommended surgery for my knee for the long term and I've been icing it and rehabbing every day to give myself a chance to keep playing. I really don't know what the next eight weeks will bring. I'll always be day-to-day. I feel like I have to be more of a leader now that Camille's out. She always hyped me up, and now I'm the one who needs to hype Astou up.

"I think being a pass rusher is one of the most important positions. I love being the first one to the ball and I think I can set the tone for the entire defense."

ETHS head coach Carlton Rosemond prevailed for the second straight year in a one-score game against his brother, Kenwood coach Billy Survillion. Both brothers have already led teams to the Elite Eight and a postseason rematch could raise the stakes a lot higher than just having bragging rights in the family.

And there's no room for false modesty in a family that has had so much success already.

"When you have two of the elite coaches in the state going at it, you'll get a dogfight like tonight," said Rosemond. "It's always that way when we play against my brother. He is me, and I am him. We know what each other wants to do and tonight we were able to get the (last) score that mattered in the end.

"These are two of the best teams in the state --- I'll say that. That's something that can change every week, though, and the best team doesn't always win State. It's a matter of playing your best at the right time."

Hopewell took over the quarterback spot for the Broncos a couple of weeks after Evanston defeated Kenwood 13-6 last fall, and led them to the Elite Eight. She has elite arm strength, is elusive in the pocket but was limited 12 completions in 25 passing attempts, for 186 yards and two touchdowns, on Thursday.

The pass rush had a lot to do with that.

"Their quarterback has the best arm in the state, and when she's cooking she's very hard to stop," Rosemond pointed out. "Our pass rush had to be there tonight, because if you give her time to throw . . . oh man, she's an elite quarterback.

"Nikki Dandelles is so resilient. She just does not stop out there. Whatever collegiate program gets her next year will be very lucky. You can't tell she has a bad leg by the way she plays. She gives it everything she's got all the time."

Following a scoreless first quarter, Evanston struck first on a 5-yard strike from Bellis to KyNia Hunt on the right side. Bellis (27-of-45 for 227 yards) also connected with Wesenberg for the PAT pass.

Kenwood countered that score six plays later when Ariah Butts caught a short pass from Hopewell and scooted 65 yards down the left sideline to paydirt.

Bellis put the Wildkits back on top just before halftime. The sophomore QB caught a break after a 16-yard completion to Hunt on a slant pattern brought the ball down to the 2-yard line with 31 seconds left on the clock.

On third down, Bellis threw a pass to the right side that was deflected by either friend or foe --- no one was certain --- and landed in Wesenberg's arms for a 13-7 halftime lead.

The end-of-the-half drive was impressive because of the aplomb showed by a sophomore quarterback playing in just her second varsity game. She drove ETHS to the go-ahead score on a 13-play, 93-yard drive that definitely impressed her head coach.

"Ava is a kid with ice in her veins," Rosemond praised. "She doesn't flinch out there. She's ready for the moment --- she wants the moment --- and I'm glad she had the moment."

Kenwood did pull even on the scoreboard thanks to a pair of pass interference penalties against the Kits late in the third period. Hopewell found Butts again, this time from 4 yards out, but Hunt broke up the PAT attempt to keep the score tied.

It was one of several big plays Hunt made on both sides of the ball --- there might not be a better two-way player in the state of Illinois --- and she probably won't be welcome to sit next to Uncle Billy (Survillion) at the family table next Thanksgiving.

"It's all good," said Hunt regarding the family rivalry. "They're a really good team. There was a lot we did right, and a lot we did wrong tonight, and it's really all about growing as a team.

"We knew they'd zone in on me and my sister (Brielle Rosemond) and we were able to showcase our other great receivers, like Harper (Wesenberg) and Emma (Reese). We have a lot of great players here."