On a rainy Friday night in Mundelein, Libertyville’s varsity football team lost to the rival Mustangs, 14-6. The game wasn’t decided until the final possession, and it was an emotional battle to reach that point. The Wildcats’ record drops to 4-1 on the season as Mundelein improves to 3-2. Libertyville now sits in a three way tie with Warren and Lake Forest atop the North Suburban Conference. 

The Wildcats’ defense was relentless throughout the first half. Mundeleien scored on the first drive of the game, but was completely shut down offensively from then on. The Mustangs went three straight drives without a first down, as defensive ends Sam Pinsel and Cole Matulenko stifled the run game, and senior safety John Stokovich made two third down stops to force punts.

“After their first score, we made a few adjustments and stayed disciplined in the run game,” Stokovich said after the game. 

Defensive back Dylan Holmes echoed this view: “On the first drive we lacked intensity, but after that we communicated really well. Everyone was flowing to the ball and being physical. We had lots of group tackles.” 

Mundelein was threatening to score at the end of the second quarter, but senior linebacker Nate Farmer sent the game to the half with a big hit on the opposing quarterback. 

“I thought the defense did a very good job stopping the run and the pass,” senior Pinsel said. “I also thought we did a good job applying the pressure to their quarterback.” 

Pinsel starts at defensive end, but also plays tight end on the offensive side of the ball. Before the game, he spoke on the Wildcats’ offensive game plan. “Definitely establishing the run game. Then, hopefully once we get that going, being able to throw the ball downfield because [senior quarterback Connor] Dickson has got a great arm.

The Cats trailed 7-0 early in the second quarter and were looking to establish their run game when senior running back Tommy Latka went down with an ankle injury. Latka didn’t return to the game, and junior running back Charlie True stepped up in his absence. True broke off a 46 yard run down to the two yard line, and then punched it in for a score on the next play. The Cats missed the two-point conversion, but only took a one point deficit into the halftime locker room. 

“Everyone on the team has a ton of confidence in Charlie,” Dickson said. The junior running back will have to step in for Latka while he nurses his ankle injury.

The second half began on a negative note for the Wildcats, as Dickson ran the ball to the left side and stayed down on the field after he was hit. The players on the sidelines and the fans in the stands took a knee; the concern on their faces was visible. 

“I was terrified when I got hit. I felt it pop and I immediately thought my career was over. I thought everything was torn,” Dickson recalled after the game. Fortunately, Dickson made it off the field under his own power. 

Even with their offensive teammates Dickson and Latka on the sidelines, the defense stayed ferocious. As the rain started to fall, Mundelein players continued to be knocked to the ground by Pinsel and the defensive line while Holmes led the secondary in locking down the Mustangs’ passing game. 

Senior defensive lineman Diego Portillo complimented the secondary’s effort, saying they did “everything they were supposed to do.” Mundelein’s defense also stood strong, and the third quarter came and went without a change on the scoreboard. 

The fourth quarter was highly emotional for the Cats and their fans. Quarterback Dickson re entered the game and began mounting a drive with a huge 14 yard completion to senior receiver Brett Scheuneman on a 3rd and 12. True continued to rumble in the rain and the Wildcats were met with a 4th and 9 just outside of field goal range, trailing by one, in the mid fourth quarter. Dickson threw the pass up for junior receiver Kristian Gavric, who was hit by a Mundelein defender before the pass arrived. The ball hit the ground, but a penalty flag did not.

The fans joined the players in a cry for a flag, but Mundelein took over on downs. They then went down, and scored a touchdown with just under three minutes to play. 

However, the Cats gave it one final stand. Two catches by Gavric and two by Scheuneman later, and Libertyville found themselves in Mundelein territory with mere seconds on the clock. Needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to force overtime, Dickson fired the ball down the field. The pass was tipped and intercepted by Mundelein, clinching a victory for the Mustangs on their homecoming night.

Reflecting on the tough loss, Stokovich said, “We’d like to improve on our tempo and on coming out of the gates hot. A lot of that has to do with our preparation, and I think the whole team can say we will be ready next Friday.” 

The Cats return home this weekend for their homecoming game against 4-1 Lake Forest. Holmes and Portillo stressed the need to pick up the urgency at practice before the upcoming game against the Scouts. 

“We’ve gotta fix some stuff,” Dickson said after the game, “but the Cats will be back next week.”