Cocroft's returns lead West Aurora

ELGIN -- West Aurora's Markus Cocroft won't be able to escape the Devin Hester comparisons.

The Blackhawks' senior return man did his best impression of the Bears' special teams ace with a kickoff return and a punt return that helped key West's a 41-26 non-conference victory against Elgin on Friday night.

Cocroft bolted 77 yards on a kickoff return in the third quarter to put West ahead 28-20.

After the Blackhawks defense halted the Maroons near midfield on their next drive, Cocroft criss-crossed the field to bring a punt back 80 yards. West would lead by at least two scores the rest of the way.

"I feel really good right now," said Cocroft, who also caught a pass for a touchdown. "(Special teams coach Mike Powers) says special teams can give a game-changing performance. Before this game he said special teams can win this game.

"Every time we get the ball we try to score. That's what we did."

West (2-0) overcame an early 7-0 deficit when Leon Spears capped a 10-play, 70-yard drive with 11:07 left in the second quarter. Kevin Costin booted the extra point to tie the game at 7.

West mounted another long drive that was capped by a four-yard keeper from QB John Nunnally with 7:14 before halftime to go ahead 14-7.

After the Maroons (0-2) tied the game with only 1:33 left, but Nunnally needed less than a minute to lead West down the field for another score. On the drive Nunnally hit Cocroft a completion of 28 yards before connecting again for an 11-yard TD that put the Blackhawks ahead 21-14 going into halftime.

After Cocroft's special-teams scores in the third quarter, West went ahead 41-20 when Garrett Rivers rumbled into the end zone from one yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Nunnally finished the game with 119 yards on 7-of-12 passing. Leon Spears led the Blackhawks in rushing with 121 yards on 21 carries and Cocroft had 65 yards on his three receptions.

And West remains unbeaten after what coach Buck Drach thought would be a tough road challenge.

"Some of those Elgin kids could play for any team in the (DuPage Valley Conference) he said. "We're happy to be 2-0 now. Anybody who says they're not is out of their minds or lying to you." West Aurora 41, Elgin 26