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Sports

How Good Are The Grayslake Knights?

North ignites the running clock in the first half. Everybody plays in a dismantling of Round Lake, 49-6.

All Grayslake North's romp on Friday night did was to provide more questions. How could Steve Wood's club score 41 points in the first half and positively pound visiting Round Lake? Does this mean the Knights are a powerful club to watch closely every week? Or is Round Lake a struggling team?

"I guess we'll know after next week,'' Wood said. "I'm not sure."

One thing is clear, the Panthers are done with their tour of Grayslake schools. Last week, it was a 47-6 loss to Central and on Friday, the Knights of North won 49-6.

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  • Records: Grayslake North 1-1, Round Lake 0-2
  • The Hero: AJ Fish, North quarterback. Wood wondered if anyone watched Baylor University's upset of Texas Christian University. It's almost like Fish was running Baylor's offense. Fish sat down most of the second half. On Friday, he turned on his running skills and crossed the 100-yard mark. On a one-play drive in the first quarter that put this game on ice, Fish found Drake Davis streaking down the sideline. "It was a perfect play,'' Wood said. "It was a 40-yard pitch and catch. He about laid out in the end zone."
  • The Turning Point: There was one play that set the tone for this romp. Prior to the Fish to Davis pass play for six points, Wood and his staff found the right time to call for an onside kick. "So we lined up for the kickoff,'' Wood said. "They really invited us to onside kick it. After we got it, we scored in a matter of seconds."
  • The Quote: "That's the first time we've gone to a running clock,'' Wood said.
  • Who's Next: If North beats Jacobs by that same 49-6 score, it's time to print playoff tickets.
  • Next Friday's game is in Algonquin at 7:15 p.m. Former Stevenson coach Bill Mitz is the head coach of Jacobs. His team is 2-0 and fresh off an impressive 28-0 romp over Johnsburg. The players to watch on this team are running back Kyle Wright and quarterback Jason Judson. "With Bill Mitz as coach, they like to shove it down your throat,'' Wood said.
  • The Bottom Line: It's an important week for the Knights. On opening night, North fell to an unbeaten Lakes team. "That was a pretty good Lakes team,'' Wood said. And then the Knights ran away and dominated Round Lake. "The starters were out before halftime,'' Wood said. "But we have to get those other kids ready."

Either way, the Knights do have a pair of school records to feel good about. For the first time in school history, North scored 40 points and turned the running clock on. And the 49 points is also a school record.

Will the Knights be able to put points on the board against a stubborn Jacobs defense? We'll find out next week.

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