Trojans knock on Prospect's door, but it stays closed

Prospect's Mike Maratea emerged from the pile in his own end zone with the biggest prize of all, and the host Knights held off Downers Grove North 10-7 on Aug. 25.

This season opener was delayed a day due to the recent severe weather.

With just less than two minutes left, the Trojans faced a fourth-and-goal from the Prospect 1-yard line. Quarterback David Stachura tried a sneak, but the Knights' Sean Wheeler popped the ball loose, and a mad scramble ensued.

"I saw it sitting there, and I jumped on it," Maratea said. "A DGN guy also grabbed at it, but I held on tight. I was never so happy when they unpiled us."

It was the fourth time Prospect had stopped Downers Grove North inside the 10-yard line.

"We didn't play especially well," Knights coach Brent Pearlman said. "But we came up with a play at the end, and maybe that's the start of something."

Prospect scored on a 29-yard run by Pat Mack early in the first quarter. The Trojans tied the score late in the quarter on an 11-yard run by Ryan Gresko. The Knights got what proved to be the winning points on a 35-yard field goal by Pat Ziegenfuss from 35 yards out with 10.1 seconds left in the first half.

North's home opener is Aug. 30 against Addison Trail. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Sun-Times News Group