Giants take care of visiting Vikings to make for happy homecoming

In front of a large and spirited home crowd, Highland Park got back on the winning track on homecoming night Friday, Sept. 29, at Wolters Field.

The Giants put together a complete performance to dispose of league foe Niles North 30-6 and move to 3-3 with three games to play.

Senior Tyler Gleyzer, also the team’s middle linebacker, made the most of an increased role in the Giants backfield, rushing for 83 yards and two touchdowns, while fellow two-way player Sebastian Vybral blocked two punts and converted a field goal, as well as three extra points.

The Giants did much of their damage on the ground, racking up 170 yards rushing. Nikko Rosenbloom chipped in 46 ground yards and quarterback David Finfer had 18 with a 2-yard rushing score.

Vybral kicked off the scoring with a 34-yard-field goal. Highland Park then scored two touchdowns — Gleyzer’s and Finfer’s runs — in under two minutes thanks to defensive stands and Vybral’s blocked punts.

Niles North cut into the lead with a score late in the first half, but the Giants added two second-half touchdowns to keep the game out of reach for the visitors. Gleyzer powered in a 1-yard run, and Finfer found Lucas Gordon for a 28-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.

After back-to-back losses, Highland Park evened up its record with its third victory — and its first in the Central Suburban League North division. The Giants stay home in Week 6 on Friday, Oct. 6, to take on new CSL North competitor Niles West, which moved to 5-1 after a rout of Vernon Hills.

Highland Park then wraps up its regular season with games at Maine East and Vernon Hills in Weeks 8-9.

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