VOL. XXVIII, NO. 1
OCTOBER 1, 1986
Slow start fails to dampen team spirit
by Amit Joshi
In a wet, sloppy, muddy game with New Trier, Maine West lost by a score of 14 to 6.
With the exception of one major error, Maine West played a very good game. A very costly fumble by Dave Eeles gave New Trier the opportunity it needed to slide past the tough Warrior defense for an early touchdown. New Trier managed to force another touchdown in the first half, but under the leadership of Scott Frankenthor '88, the Warriors were able to launch a scoring drive late in the fourth quarter that gained 6 points for them.
After the first New Trier touchdown, the Warriors tried valiantly to put some points on the board, but the team was unable to sustain a drive. The whole team seemed to respond to quarterback Scott Frankenthor, who was put in by Coach Jannusch in the second quarter, but the driving rain and the big New Trier defense put a damper on any thoughts of scoring a touchdown.
The second quarter ended without any significant plays. The second half; however, was a different story. The Warriors outplayed the Trevians and wore them down physically. The Warriors finally managed to launch a 50 yard scoring drive in which Frankenthor made a couple of key passes that kept the Trevian defense off balance.
John Massarelli '87 also ran for some important first downs. Joe Kulesza rumbled in from the one yard line to score for the first time in 2 games for the Warriors. Scott Larsen '88 was injured on a defensive play so the Warriors were not able to kick an extra point. Instead the Warriors tried to get the 2 point conversion, but that attempt failed.
The touchdown for West came with only 5:22 left to play in the game. The Trevians, who were charged with 81 yards in penalties in the second half, managed to hold on to the ball long enough to eat up the time left on the clock.
Although the Warriors lost, they came very close to pulling off a big upset. This has been the trend for the last three games.
In a wet, sloppy, muddy game with New Trier, Maine West lost by a score of 14 to 6.
With the exception of one major error, Maine West played a very good game. A very costly fumble by Dave Eeles gave New Trier the opportunity it needed to slide past the tough Warrior defense for an early touchdown. New Trier managed to force another touchdown in the first half, but under the leadership of Scott Frankenthor '88, the Warriors were able to launch a scoring drive late in the fourth quarter that gained 6 points for them.
After the first New Trier touchdown, the Warriors tried valiantly to put some points on the board, but the team was unable to sustain a drive. The whole team seemed to respond to quarterback Scott Frankenthor, who was put in by Coach Jannusch in the second quarter, but the driving rain and the big New Trier defense put a damper on any thoughts of scoring a touchdown.
The second quarter ended without any significant plays. The second half; however, was a different story. The Warriors outplayed the Trevians and wore them down physically. The Warriors finally managed to launch a 50 yard scoring drive in which Frankenthor made a couple of key passes that kept the Trevian defense off balance.
John Massarelli '87 also ran for some important first downs. Joe Kulesza rumbled in from the one yard line to score for the first time in 2 games for the Warriors. Scott Larsen '88 was injured on a defensive play so the Warriors were not able to kick an extra point. Instead the Warriors tried to get the 2 point conversion, but that attempt failed.
The touchdown for West came with only 5:22 left to play in the game. The Trevians, who were charged with 81 yards in penalties in the second half, managed to hold on to the ball long enough to eat up the time left on the clock.
Although the Warriors lost, they came very close to pulling off a big upset. This has been the trend for the last three games.
Last week against the Maine South Hawks, the Warriors only gave up 153 yards. The week before that West had dropped a close game with Hoffman Estates in overtime with a score of 19 to 13.
As a result of playing tough down to the wire, the Warriors have been physically hurt. The team has lost senior quarterback John Casserly for the season and Scott Larsen, the field goal kicker and defensive back, has also been injured.
The most consistent part of the Maine West team has been the defense, which hardly gives up any points to bigger, opposing offenses.
Another bright spot on the Warriors roster has been the outstanding punting of junior kicker Tim Michaely. In the game against the Trevians, Tim blasted several kicks deep into enemy territory. His punting has kept the Warrior team out of trouble more than just once.
Maine West football fans must realize that the Warriors have played 2 of the best teams in the area; Maine South and New Trier. Both are powerhouses in football, and are ranked in the top sixteen in the area.
Even though the team has lost three games in a row, the players are still enthusiastic about the rest of the season. John Massarelli states, "We'll probably break .500 this year because we're a stronger and more together team than last year."
Coach Jannusch added, "We are a better team than last year, we are bigger and stronger. We take only one game at a time, so we don't worry about what is going to happen two to three weeks from now."
The attitude among the Warriors is still a good one. Almost every player feels that the team will rebound after its early losses. Tight end Joe Wall '87 states, "We may have lost some of our early games, but we realize that we came close to defeating two very good teams."
"If the offense can move the ball the way we did in the fourth quarter against New Trier we'll definitely be winning some big games," states Scott Frankenthor.
Another cheering thought is that New Trier has just beaten Waukegan West 44 to 0 in the previous week. If they had such an easy time with them, West should have no problem in defeating Waukegan West for Homecoming.
As a result of playing tough down to the wire, the Warriors have been physically hurt. The team has lost senior quarterback John Casserly for the season and Scott Larsen, the field goal kicker and defensive back, has also been injured.
The most consistent part of the Maine West team has been the defense, which hardly gives up any points to bigger, opposing offenses.
Another bright spot on the Warriors roster has been the outstanding punting of junior kicker Tim Michaely. In the game against the Trevians, Tim blasted several kicks deep into enemy territory. His punting has kept the Warrior team out of trouble more than just once.
Maine West football fans must realize that the Warriors have played 2 of the best teams in the area; Maine South and New Trier. Both are powerhouses in football, and are ranked in the top sixteen in the area.
Even though the team has lost three games in a row, the players are still enthusiastic about the rest of the season. John Massarelli states, "We'll probably break .500 this year because we're a stronger and more together team than last year."
Coach Jannusch added, "We are a better team than last year, we are bigger and stronger. We take only one game at a time, so we don't worry about what is going to happen two to three weeks from now."
The attitude among the Warriors is still a good one. Almost every player feels that the team will rebound after its early losses. Tight end Joe Wall '87 states, "We may have lost some of our early games, but we realize that we came close to defeating two very good teams."
"If the offense can move the ball the way we did in the fourth quarter against New Trier we'll definitely be winning some big games," states Scott Frankenthor.
Another cheering thought is that New Trier has just beaten Waukegan West 44 to 0 in the previous week. If they had such an easy time with them, West should have no problem in defeating Waukegan West for Homecoming.
