Sports
Flames Playoffs Wrap Up This Weekend
Three teams vie for championship Saturday and Sunday at Carmel Catholic High School.
Heading into the third and final weekend of playoffs, there are three Lake Zurich Flames teams that are competing for a championship: Featherweight White Pac 10, Bantam Orange Wilson Pac 10 and Northeast Bantam Big 10.
Bantam Orange Pac 10 is 11-0 this season, including their two playoff wins. Last Saturday, they eked out a 19-13 win over Buffalo Grove and the week before they defeated Woodstock 26-6.
"Buffalo Grove has been our toughest opponent," said coach Wil Juarez. " "We opened the season beating them in a tight game, and last week we had our closest game of the season."
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The Bantam Orange team has scored 258 points this season, while giving up a stingy 57. Coach Juarez credits his defensive line for their tough play, including defensive ends Jake Robertson and Cole McKellar, outside linebackers Connor Burkley and Thomas Vages and inside linebackers Kobe Juarez and Kevin Wasser.
"Our offense is successful due to our offensive line. They create the openings for our running backs," said Juarez. The team's O-line includes left end Brett Lane, left tackle Hayden Shaw, left guard Josh Pollard, center Joseph Ruiz, right guard Jeremy Kamman, right tackle Brian Laswics and right end Carson Boller. Burkley, Vages and Wasser are the team's three rushers.
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Juarez has four sons who play football. His oldest son plays on Lake Zurich High School's junior varsity squad. He attributes much of his team's success to the access he's had in adapting plays from the Bear's playbook.
"The coaches have been great, especially the defensive coach. They let me come to any of the practices and watch practice and game videos," said Juarez.
Bantam Orange Pac 10 will square off against Elgin White Baden at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 13. The game will be played at Carmel Catholic High School, 1 Carmel Parkway, Mundelein. The other two games will also be played at Carmel.
Featherweight
10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 13 - Lake Zurich White versus Buffalo Grove Black Wilson (Pac 10)
Bantam
11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 13 - Lake Zurich Orange Wilson versus Elgin White Baden (Pac 10)
12:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 14 - Lake Zurich Northeast versus Crystal Lake Northeast (Big 10)
