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2008 Varsity (5-1)
Voted 2007 Nation's Best Student Section
It was old fashioned, smash mouth football on
Friday evening at Hale Hildebrandt Field as the Fremd Vikings continue
their quest towards the IHSA playoffs. Behind three yards and a cloud
of rubber pellets, the Vikings came away with a 13-7 homecoming win over
the Conant Cougars on the new Field Turf surface.
Conant got on the board first with an impressive 12
play, 67 yard opening drive.
The Vikings had to wait until the second quarter
for their first score on the new field. Evan Wright capped off an 11
play, 76 yard drive with a 15 yard scoring run. Brett Opitz converted
the PAT to knot the score at 7-7. It was the Vikings only possession of
the second quarter.
Coach Mike Donatucci’s defense made some quick
adjustments after Conant’s opening drive and held the Cougars to zero
yards rushing and -6 yards passing in the second quarter.
The Vikings next scoring drive was setup by
Wright’s 19 yard punt return in the third quarter. Fremd needed only
four plays to take a 13-7 lead. Quarterback Mike Tauchman found the
versatile Zenon Kolakowski in the right corner of the end zone for a 22
yard touchdown pass. The PAT attempt failed.
The blitzing Fremd defense held the Cougars running
game in check for the entire second half. Conant rushed for -24 yards
and was limited to just 76 yards passing. The defense was led by
linebacker Jon Diegel. Diegel had 10 tackles with 2 sacks and 6 tackles
for loss. Ben Perna added a sack and 3 tackles for loss.
James Szafranski sealed the victory for Fremd with
an interception with less than a minute remaining in the game.
“I’ve said all along the West was going to be very
tough this year,” Donatucci said. “This was a good win over a very good
football team.
“Now we have to move on and face three more very
good football teams. But I believe this team and coaching staff is ready
to accept that challenge!”
The Vikings sophomore team won their 5th straight
as well posting a 54-0 victory.
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