Running, defense dominate for CLC

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JOHNSBURG – Crystal Lake Central’s running game provided its usual productivity, while the defense also came up big against Johnsburg’s high-powered offense.

Linebacker Cody May and defensive end Dallas Bogle led the Tigers’ defense, which allowed Johnsburg 179 total yards in Central’s 36-7 victory in their Fox Valley Conference Fox Division game Friday night at Johnsburg Athletic Field.

Central (6-1 overall, 4-0 FVC Fox) maintained its lead in the division with two games remaining. Johnsburg (4-3, 2-2) needs to win its final two games to assure a playoff berth.

Central coach Jon McLaughlin lauded the defense after the game for its effort.

“Our defensive coordinator, Lance Burmeister, did a great job putting together the defensive scheme together for us,” McLaughlin said. “We were prepared tonight and executed well.”

For the second straight game, the Tigers jumped out to an early lead and kept going.

After the Skyhawks went three-and-out on their first possession and a short punt, the Central’s rushing game went into high gear. In only four plays, the Tigers scored their first touchdown on fullback Adam Smyth’s one-yard run.

On Johnsburg’s next possession, May shot through the gap and forced a fumble that Central recovered on Johnsburg’s 36. Four plays later, the Tigers’ Gage Harrah scored from four yards out.

It didn’t help Johnsburg’s offense that the Skyhawks lost quarterback George Bielis, who suffered an elbow injury when he was hit while throwing a pass. He did not return and Johnsburg coach Barry Creviston was forced to use wide receiver C.J. Fiedorowicz, the team’s best athlete and leading receiver, at quarterback.

“It was tough losing Bielis in the first quarter,” Creviston said. “C.J. [Fiedorowicz] has taken some snaps in practice, but we lost a good part of our offense.”

Central took full advantage again of the short field, scoring its third touchdown of the first quarter on Harrah’s two-yard run for a 22-0 lead.

Bogle attributed the defensive play to a good week of practice.

“We were really prepared for this game,” Bogle said. “Our stand is we won’t allow any big plays against us. This is a big-play team we played tonight, but we were going to bend but not break.”

Fiedorowicz connected on a 40 yard strike to wide receiver David Virgo in the second quarter for the Skyhawks’ lone score. But Central answered right back with a 12-play, 55-yard scoring drive of its own.

“I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but we want to shoot for the highest [playoff] seed possible,” McLaughlin said. “Let’s hope this momentum carries over in to the next couple of games.”