Buffalo Grove defense, ‘As good as Gold’
By: Luke Drase
For the first time in 15 years, the Buffalo Grove football team has started the season 3-0, thanks to a 30-7 drubbing of Maine West.
The Bison did not leave the Maine West offense any room to maneuver. After averaging 41 points in their first two games of the season, Maine West was shut out until late in the third quarter.
The Buffalo Grove defensive line gave the Warriors offensive line fits. Buffalo Grove accumulated an incredible 14 sacks on the night, led by senior defensive end Justin Gold, who had a whopping seven sacks by himself.
“Well we know our defense starts and ends with our defensive linemen. Those guys up front just make it so much easier for everyone behind.” said Buffalo Grove coach Jeffery Vlk.
“We have a great defensive backfield, we have great linebackers, but those guys up front are awesome football players. It’s fun to have so many options and guys we can put on that line.”
Buffalo Grove opened up the scoring on their very first play from scrimmage. Tom Trieb received a handoff on his own 20 yard line, found the edge and scampered home for an 80 yard score.
After a safety in which Maine West snapped the ball into it’s own endzone, Buffalo Grove got the ball back, and proceeded to score on another long play. This time a 48 yard touchdown pass from Connor Adams to Matt Prawica.
Adams found Prawica twice more, giving him three total touchdown receptions on the night to go along with his 118 receiving yards.
Prawica said: “I think that [Quarterback] Connor just trusts me. We created a bond over the offseason and that really showed in our play tonight.”
Maine West made the game slightly interesting late in the third quarter. After George Markakis found Matt Kentgen for a 8 yard pitch and catch, the Warriors forced a three and out to get the ball back straight away.
The Warriors drove all the way down to the Buffalo Grove two yard line, but the defense came up with a big fourth down stop yet again, to seal the victory and stomp out any chance of a Maine West comeback.
“It’s awesome for the school, it’s awesome for our confidence,” said Coach Vlk.
“With a school like Buffalo Grove, these people have been waiting for a winning team and these guys have started to do that and we’re just excited to be apart of it.”
Buffalo Grove will face off against another CSL North school in Maine East next week, while Maine West will look to get back to winning ways when they travel to Wheeling.
