On Saturday, Nov. 7 the Libertyville varsity football team took the next step in their mission to win a state championship. The Wildcats (11-0) and Riley Lees found a way to defeat a very solid Lincoln-Way East team (8-3) Saturday afternoon with a 27-17 win.
The Northwestern commit didn’t waste any time getting his team off to the fast start they’re used to, with three passing touchdowns on his first three passing attempts (two to wideout Timmy Calamari).
Starting the game off at their own 20-yard line, Lees took the shotgun snap and lofted a perfect pass, hitting Calamari in stride for the 80-yard score. After a Griffin punt on their first possession, the tandem of Lees and Calamari connected again for a touchdown, this time, a 63-yard score that gave LHS a 14-0 lead with 7:25 left in the opening quarter.
The way the Cats’ offense has been all season, scoring at will, it seemed as if LHS was en route to another big victory. However, after the second Calamari score (6 receptions, 193 yards, 2 TDs), the Griffins manufactured a 16-play, 67-yard drive that resulted in a 5-yard touchdown by running back Liam Morrissey.
Lees (14-for-21, 268 yards, 3 TDs, 127 rushing yards, TD) then found receiver Henry Schmidt for a 19-yard score early in the second quarter that put the Cats up 21-7.
After converting a crucial 4th-and-4 on a fake punt, the Griffins found the endzone on a 27-yard touchdown pass from dual-threat quarterback Brandon Bauer to receiver Logan Winkler to make it a one score game at half, 21-14.
In the third quarter, it was a somewhat unlikely defensive struggle between these two highly proficient offenses. Both defenses made big plays, including Lincoln-Way East’s Kyle Werniak picking off Lees in the endzone, and the Cats forced multiple stops and punts.
In the fourth quarter, the LHS defense would continue to stymy the Griffins and a 40-yard touchdown rush by Lees gave the Wildcats the insurance they needed.
Libertyville will face Normal Community High School in the state quarterfinals this Saturday at home at 1 p.m.. Tickets will again be $6 for all attending.
