Bears Defense Must Be Able To Prevent Eagles Offense From Soaring

Against Warren Township High School last week, the Bears got off to a slow start and quickly found themselves down 14-3. Then a field goal, a blocked punt and subsequent touchdown just before halftime got them to within a point of the Blue Devils. .

This week, the Bears will host Lakes Community High School (3-0) in the last of three straight home games. The Eagles should prove to be a formidable foe for Lake Zurich; They possess a balanced offense on the ground and in the air, and while their defense isn’t as athletic as the Bears, it’s nonetheless very solid.

Lakes defeated conference rivals Grayslake North 16-7 in the opening game of the season. They led 3-0 at halftime on a 36-yard field goal by Tanner Blain, but Grayslake North drove 80 yards on 11 plays after starting the second half on offense, taking a 7-3 lead. The Eagles then scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns for a come-from-behind victory that was impressive, all the more so because starting quarterback Chris Hoffman was injured. But backup Levi Haymaker made the most of his opportunity, including a 21-yard strike to Justin Bergeron that gave Lakes the lead.

Direll Clark then ran the ball 72 yards for another touchdown late in the fourth to cement the Eagles' victory.

On Sept. 2, Lakes traveled to Woodstock North — of the Fox Valley Conference’s Fox Division — where they beat the Thunder 23-14. With the return of Hoffman under center, the Eagles' offense was able to shift into overdrive, amassing 250 rushing yards.

Lakes jumped out to a 13-0 lead before the Thunder scored a pair of rushing touchdowns to take a 14-13 lead in the third quarter. But Blain’s 23-yard field goal and Clark’s second rushing touchdown following an interception completed the scoring.

Last week, the Eagles scored their most impressive victory in a 38-14 route of Grant.

Clark had a big game, rushing for 109 first-half yards on 11 carries. But it was his offensive linemen who created huge holes for him, making his running lanes look as big as a parking lot.

Lakes has a sizable o-line that features several behemoths, including Dillon Falotico (6-foot-6, 291 pounds), Mike Fornet (6-foot-2, 270 pounds), Dan Pawlak (6-foot-5, 265 pounds), Ty Summers (6-foot-2, 275 pounds) and Isaac Soto (6-foot-1, 230 pounds). They should provide a substantial challenge to the Bears’ defensive line.

The Eagles demonstrated their mix-and-match offensive capabilities against Grant, striking first with a 14-yard touchdown run by Clark, followed by a 29-yard score by Justin Bergeron after catching a screen by Hoffman. After the Bulldogs answered with an 80-yard drive, the Eagles scored two more touchdowns for a 28-7 lead.

For the second week in a row, Lake Zurich will face a very versatile quarterback in Hoffman, whose favorite target is the swift, sure-handed Bergeron. Running back Clark is a yards eater, and the multitalented Haymaker is their all-purpose player; when he’s not filling in at quarterback, he’s also contributing on defense.

Haymaker also took a lateral from Hoffman behind the line of scrimmage in their game against Woodstock North and connected with Bergeron for a 28-yard touchdown pass.

And then there’s the Eagles' mountain of an offensive line, presenting an intriguing challenge for the Bears defense. Lake Zurich will have their hands full against a team that’s solid offensively and defensively. The key for them will be to maintain their style of play and minimize the Eagles' attempts to disrupt it.