FOOTBALL: Glenbrook North Falls to District Rivals 28-14

It wasn’t the prettiest game, but Glenbrook South was able to wear out their rivals from Glenbrook North in the fourth quarter.

The Titans ran the ball 48 times against the host Spartans and put the game away on a 14-play drive in the fourth quarter to win 28-14 over their district rivals Friday night in Northbrook.

The two teams combined for 20 penalties and six turnovers on a rainy night.

“They stepped up and played as hard as they could,” GBN coach Bob Pieper said. “We just made too many mistakes.

“Against a good team you can’t make this many mistakes.”

South (2-1) made the first mistake of a game on a muffed punt following the opening drive of the game, but the Titans returned the favor by intercepting a Curt Petty pass three plays later.

Petty, who plays both ways for the Spartans (1-2), was on the other end of an interception with 2:21 left in the first quarter. TJ Tedeschi tipped the ball to allow Petty to pick it off and run 65 yards down the sideline for the game’s first score.

It was the first interception of the senior’s career.

“I started all the games last year and didn’t get one,” Petty said. “That one felt pretty good.

“I got my eyes on the end zone. It felt so good. That was the best feeling in the world.”

North’s running attack got going in the second quarter on an 11-play drive, but a Petty fumble inside the 30 turned the momentum. South would score on the ensuing drive to tie the game with 1:40 to go in the half.

Spartans’ junior running back Grant Rushing fumbled two plays later and the Titans took advantage. South quarterback Mac Zabriskie ran for a 12-yard score to give his team a 14-7 lead with just 30 seconds before halftime.

However, 30 seconds was all North would need. Tommy Senft took the kickoff past midfield and two plays later Petty hit Jason Scholl, who rumbled into the endzone for a 47-yard score to tie the game at 14 at half.

With 6:30 remaining in the third, Titans’ workhorse running back Kevin Schroeder, who carried the ball 29 times, gave South a 21-14 lead on a three-yard run.

The Spartans’ hopes of a comeback took a hit when Petty cramped up in the third. He came back for a play, but the cramps persisted and he missed the rest of the game.

“I wanted back out there, but I’m not going to do much if I’m falling down,” Petty said.

On the next drive the Spartans managed to get inside the 20 despite having Petty out at quarterback, but couldn’t convert a third-and-one and turned the ball over on downs.

“That killed us,” Pieper said. “We had a chance to get a first down on two plays. Third and one and fourth and six inches and we didn’t get a first down so that hurt.”

At the end of the third and into the fourth the Titans’ signature 14-play drive, capped off by a two-yard touchdown run from Schroeder, put the game out of reach. The drive spanned 10 minutes and included 12 run plays.

The Spartans had the Titans stopped earlier in the drive, but an unsportsmanlike penalty against North gave South new life and they took advantage.

“They got the punt team coming out and then we have somebody say something to the other team,” Pieper said. “Not real happy about that.”

North will have to rebound next Friday at 2-1 Evanston.