Scott's 1st varsity TD lifts Gators

Crystal Lake South's Steve Rogers (17) celebrates with teammates after pulling down an interception in the end zone during the first quarter of Friday's game against Crete-Monee. (Travis Haughton photo)

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CRYSTAL LAKE – As they huddled around one another and coach Jim Stuglis, and after shaking hands with Crete-Monee’s players, it began to sink in.

“We’re 1-0,” Crystal Lake South players, one by one, began to spiritedly shout to one another.

Having faced a traditionally strong team and entering the game feeling like the underdogs in South’s Friday home opener against the Warriors, it almost was as if repeating their record was the only thing making the 7-0 South victory real. 

“We know they’ve always been a pretty good team and we felt a little like underdogs, even at home,” South running back Kameron Scott said. “That just made us more fired up.”

That energy helped push Scott to the first varsity touchdown against the Warriors – a playoff team for the past three seasons.

With 50 seconds remaining in the first half of a scoreless game and the Gators with second-and-1 on the Warriors’ 12-yard line, Scott ran for a touchdown to give South the lead.

Senior Mike Frericks’ extra point was good for the final mark.

“We knew we needed to get the ball in on that play,” said Scott, who finished the night with 51 yards on 10 carries. “The play was supposed to go to the left, but then a hole opened up for me on the right and I just took it.

“It’s great to score it, and just to have everyone here and be at home in front of everyone.”

The Gators (1-0) had only one other chance to score, but fumbled the ball away on the Warriors’ 15-yard line early in the second quarter.

South didn’t need a lot of offense, though, in a game that was extremely defensive.

The Gators held the Warriors (0-1) to 120 total yards and rolled out their own version of a 3-3-5 defense that protected the rushing game well enough to allow it only 56 yards.

South shut down the Warriors’ two best chances to score. Steve Rogers’ interception in the endzone late in the first quarter gave South momentum heading into the second quarter.

The Gators squashed Crete-Monee’s other scoring opportunity by holding the Warriors at first and goal on the Gators’ 3-yard line. South’s defense forced the Warriors back eight yards on their next six plays before sacking Warriors’ quarterback Lexus Jackson on fourth and goal at the 11 to end the possession.

“We do that all the time in practice,” senior defensive tackle Ryan Kuhn said. “When we get a lot of adrenaline going, we step up and make some good plays.

“And we’ve worked so hard. This win was a huge thing for us.”