The following reports were pulled from the latest incident summaries provided by law enforcement departments in our coverage area (Wilmette, Winnetka, Highland Park, Northfield, Kenilworth and Glencoe).
WILMETTE
Sept. 27
• An individual was arrested in Wilmette for allegedly stealing a car in Oak Park.
Sept. 25
• An individual was arrested for allegedly stealing a car on Sept. 16 and using credit cards stolen in that incident.
Sept. 24
• A resident reportedly was scammed into making Bitcoin transfers.
Sept. 23
• An unlocked car reportedly was stolen overnight in the 2500 block of Kenilworth Avenue. Two other cars in the area (2400 and 2500 block of Kenilworth Avenue) reportedly were broken into with one item stolen from one of the cars.
• An unlocked bicycle reportedly was stolen from the 400 block of Linden Avenue.
• Packages reportedly were stolen from a front porch in the 1700 block of Elmwood Avenue.
WINNETKA
Sept. 21
• More than $5,000 in fraudulent transactions reportedly were made to a resident’s Amazon credit card.
GLENCOE
No reported incidents between Sept. 17-23 that meet The Record’s standards for publication.
HIGHLAND PARK
Sept. 24
• More than $120 in merchandise reportedly was stolen from Target, 2099 Skokie Valley Road.
Sept. 23
• More than $100 in merchandise reportedly was stolen from Target, 2099 Skokie Valley Road.
Sept. 22
• A wallet reportedly was stolen from the Western Union location inside Jewel, 1600 Deerfield Road.
NORTHFIELD
Sept. 23
• A theft was reported in the 2200 block of Drury Lane. No further information was provided.
• A fraud was reported from the 1600 block of Winnetka Road. No further information was provided.
KENILWORTH
No incidents reported between Sept. 19-26.
The Record’s police reports are taken from police-activity summaries prepared by local police departments. Police Reports contain public information from preliminary reports and are not a complete listing of all police activity. The Record does not publish the names of individuals arrested and named in preliminary reports unless the incident is a matter of public safety or has significant community implications. All arrestees are innocent until proven guilty.
Reports circulating on social media say that federal immigration agents were on the ground Tuesday in Winnetka and other North Shore communities.
But village and law enforcement officials told The Record that they have no knowledge of any such activity and have not confirmed any local sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Tensions are high across Chicagoland two days after uniformed U.S. border-patrol agents marched en masse across highly visible locations in Chicago, as reported by Block Club Chicago.
Block Club also reported that federal agents swarmed a South Side apartment building early Tuesday and detained a family (man, woman and two children) at Millennium Park on Sunday. All of this coming after protesters occasionally were met with violent response at an ICE processing facility in Broadview, Illinois.
At a press conference on Monday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said that the Department of Homeland Security is sending 100 troops to Chicago to support and protect immigration enforcement — the latest development in President Donald Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz, an immigration crackdown in Chicago announced on Sept. 8.
Reports of federal agents in Winnetka parks surfaced and spread Tuesday morning; however, a Village spokesperson and Police Chief Brian O’Connell said they had no knowledge of any federal activity on Tuesday. Northfield Village Manager Patrick Brennan said the same about reported activity in the neighboring community.
A spokesperson from FBI’s Chicago office, which often participates in local federal activity, said its agents did not participate in any north-suburban operation on Tuesday.
ICE’s Chicago field office did not immediately return an email from The Record.
Learning of the unconfirmed reports coming out of Winnetka, some local organizations on Tuesday took the moment to remind residents of their rights when approached by immigration officers.
New Trier Township posted to social media the phone number (847-737-4042) for the North Shore Legal Aid Clinic, a local nonprofit that provides free legal services in specific areas, including immigration.
The legal aid clinic also on Tuesday posted to Facebook images promoting the clinic’s “Know Your Rights” flyers, which include information on the right to remain silent, right to an attorney, and protections against illegal search and seizure.
Patrick Hanley, a candidate for the Illinois’ 9th senate district, saw the potential activity as an opportunity to organize. Hanley said he wants to build a New Trier Rapid Response team that can collect and vet information on federal agents’ local activity. He created an online signup form already filled out by more than 60 individuals.
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Highland Park City Council got its first chance on Monday to review plans for a 227-townhome community in the former Solo Cup property and set up a second chance.
The council determined the proposal is progressing in the right direction but still needs further tweaks before final consideration. Councilmembers unanimously voted for city staff to draft documents for a preliminary approval of The Habitat Company’s request to rezone approximately 28 acres of land at 1700 Deerfield from industrial to residential in order to make way for the development.
The City Council will consider that preliminary approval at a yet undetermined date, and a final round of engineering work will be completed for the site plan if council members vote in favor of it. The group would then vote on final approval of the development at another future meeting.
The project would create a 48-building community built around a clubhouse and beside nine acres of green space on one of the largest lots of undeveloped land left in the city. Thirty-four of the units would be reserved for the area’s median income as part of the city’s Inclusionary Housing Plan.
If approved, The Habitat Company, a Chicago-based developer working on behalf of Red Cup Land Company, would likely begin construction of the development this spring, said Zack Zalar, vice president of investments at The Habitat Company. Construction reportedly would take 18-24 months.
The latest overview of 227-townhome community, depicted in this aerial view, added green space between a number of buildings. | Image Submitted
The council’s discussion of the development’s plans came after the Highland Park Plan and Design Commission spent 17 hours reviewing the project across six different public meetings this year. The commission eventually voted 5-2 on Sept. 9 to recommend the project for City Council approval.
Highland Park City Council’s review also came after The Habitat Company made numerous revisions to the site plan to address a range of concerns voiced by the commissioners and members of the public.
A number of those concerns, including density and impact on local traffic, were discussed again on Monday during the four-hour special meeting in front of more than 50 attendees on Sept. 29 at The Moraine, 101 Park Ave.
“I do think there are certain asks that you’ve heard from the community and us tonight and I’d like to see what we come up with, because I think it’s got the bones for a very good plan,” Councilmember Annette Lidawer said to The Habitat Company’s representatives.
“I think this is what our community wants, which is residential in a mixed area, but there’s a lot of work still to be done, both by you and all of us,” Lidawer said.
Among other provisions, councilmembers requested guarantees the work will be completed (in case of construction slowdowns) and a review from the Illinois Environmental Protection to ensure hazardous materials from the former industrial site are mitigated.
Councilmembers also asked the developer to make the 1,430-foot walking trail accessible, for electrical vehicle chargers to be added, and for an agreement that a second traffic study be completed once the homes reach full occupancy to ensure traffic projections were accurate.
From the gallery
Residents repeated during the meeting’s public comment that they disliked the project’s density and the townhomes’ height in comparison to the surrounding neighborhood. Some also argued their daily experiences driving in the area indicated the project will add too much traffic.
Zalar said The Habitat Company is not willing to reduce the project to any fewer buildings. The developer has already shrunk the project four times from the original proposal of 262 townhomes.
While this may not be perfect equilibrium … it is a pretty darn good landing given the complexity of the stakeholders involved.”
Andrés Tapia, Highland Park councilmember
Because of proposed improvements to area intersections and projected traffic volumes for year 2031, The Habitat Company’s traffic study, which was reviewed by the city’s independent contractor CivilTech, determined the area roads have “sufficient reserve capacity” to accommodate growth.
“I received numerous emails from residents discussing many anecdotal experiences; these are very powerful experiences. I’ve lived in Highland Park for more than 16 years, I’ve had a variety of anecdotal experiences that suggest various traffic issues,” Councilmember Tony Blumberg said Monday.
“Often, our anecdotal experiences conflict with the reports and recommendations of traffic studies which often do not seem fundamentally intuitive. My experience on commissions and council is that the traffic studies, although not intuitive, do historically tend to be fairly accurate.”
Highland Park Police Chief Lou Jogmen said the police department has reviewed the traffic plan and he is comfortable the department will “persevere and be fine with response times.”
Fifteen people spoke during the public comment section of Monday’s meeting and more than 200 letters were submitted to the city from individuals concerned or in support of the proposed development. | SAMUEL LISEC / THE RECORD NORTH SHORE
Some councilmembers and individuals from the public also argued this could be the best version of a development for the former Red Solo site the city can hope for, and the council should not reject the plan as the owner could develop it in a less desirable direction.
A 500-unit housing development was first proposed for the site in 2018 from another developer. Red Cup Land Company then proposed turning the lot into an industrial center with 300,000 square feet of warehouse and distribution space. Both plans were rejected by the city
“Change is always difficult. We get used to certain things and we love our streets and the way things move, we get used to them,” Councilmember Andrés Tapia said. “So the question is how do we find the right balance because as a city we do desire more residents. A declining city is one of fewer people.
“We’ve read everything and we’re really trying to find that thing. While this may not be perfect equilibrium in terms of number units and what may feel like overcrowding, it is a pretty darn good landing given the complexity of the stakeholders involved.”
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Dozens of supporters of local nonprofit newsroom The Record North Shore took to the golf course on Thursday, Sept. 26, at The Evans at Canal Shores to show that support during the fifth annual Record Open, presented by Club Wilmette.
Under a blue and bright sky, participants enjoyed 18 holes on the rejuvenated course, as well as a meal on the facility’s patio and contests, giveaways and plenty of community connections.
Record Director of Development Ryan Osborn talks with participants following the round. | Samuel Lisec/The Record North Shore
Record Director of Development Ryan Osborn said the day was more than raising funds.
“The most genuine prize is contributing to a better-informed, more connected local community,” he said. “Thank you to our golfers, sponsors and volunteers for turning a special day together into impactful support for more local journalism.”
The quartet of Rob Kaskovich, Paul Kaskovich, Jeff Voels and Mike Siehoff collaborated on a low-round 10-under par to, by one stroke, earn a cash prize — supported by prize sponsor Optima — that the group graciously donated back to The Record.
Other winners included Julia Goebel and Martin Podorsky for their Longest Drives. Goebel was also Closest to the Pin.
After the competition on the course, the participants gathered near the clubhouse for post-round drinks and dinner from Bluestone, out of Evanston, which was sponsored by North Shore Community Bank.
Winner of the 50/50 raffle, Bill Sullivan donated his winnings back to The Record North Shore.
During the celebration, attendees also had the chance to win donated prizes via a special competition dubbed Putting Roulette. Donating were: Hofherr Meat Co., Central Station Coffee and Tea, Grateful Bites, the Bottle Shop, the Evans at Canal Shores, The Book Stall, Graeter’s Ice Cream, Midtown Athletic Club, Renaissance Chicago North Shore, EvaDean’s, Club Wilmette and Pit & Tap.
Hole sponsors were: Hofherr Meat Co., TruePromotion, Ballyhoo Hospitality, Stormy’s Tavern and Grille, ICHI by Torino Ramen, North Shore Senior Center Chicago, Chicago Union Cares.
Golfers take their chances in Putting Roulette during the event. | Samuel Lisec/The Record North Shore
All of it came together for more than $5,000 in net contributions for The Record — funds that will go directly into responsible local reporting for the community.
The Record believes that responsible and nonpartisan local news is vital to a community’s wellbeing and produces community news as a public service. The Record’s reporting is free for all to read. The Record relies on its readers to fund its work through donations and subscriptions.
Events like The Record Open allow The Record to sustain its mission, which also includes remaining an active member in the community.
The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.
Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.
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Blue ribbon or not, the celebration was on at Regina Dominican High School on Friday.
The U.S. Department of Education selected the Wilmette school as a National Blue Ribbon School in early August, just a couple of weeks before that same department canceled the program before officially handing out this year’s honors.
Either way, the Regina Dominican community celebrated its blue-ribbon designation — its first since the 1990s — with a schoolwide assembly on Friday, Sept. 26, at the all-girls Catholic school, 701 Locust Road.
“We got through the whole process and it took a lot of people on our end and the federal end a long time,” School President Krista Gallagher said. “So we are thrilled and we’re not going to let it steal our thunder. We’re going to soak it up and enjoy it and be proud of it.”
Wilmette Village President Senta Plunkett and Regina Board Chairperson Dave Morrison joined Regina students and faculty on Friday to celebrate the honor at the school.
Regina students rally on Friday, Sept. 26, to celebrate the National Blue Ribbon.
The National Blue Ribbon program began more than 40 years ago and recognizes “overall high academic achievement” in schools throughout the country.
In a press release, Regina Dominican specifically pointed out its advanced placement and honors courses that “empower students to achieve at the highest levels and succeed well beyond high school.”
Principal Kassie Porreca expressed gratitude to Regina’s faculty and students for the earned recognition.
“We are proud of the hard work and commitment of our faculty and the outstanding academic performance of our students, which led to our recognition with this award,” she said. “The rigorous multi-step application process took many months to complete, and we were thrilled to receive the notification that we were to receive the Blue Ribbon award. It’s a validation of our years of hard work to create an academically outstanding high school experience for our students.”
To be considered for a National Blue Ribbon, schools must submit a 20-page application. While only a small percentage of schools (about 350) are recognized each year, North Shore schools are regulars on the annual list of awardees. To name a few: New Trier High School won in 1990 and 2009; Sacred Heart School (Winnetka) in 2018; The Skokie School (Winnetka) in 2013; Romona Elementary (Wilmette) in 2006, 2017 and 2023; and Faith Hope and Charity (Winnetka) in 2014 and 2023.
It is difficult to identify many previous winners as the program’s web pages and archives have been removed from the department of education website.
According to reporting from Chalkbeat, a nonprofit newsroom that covers education, federal officials told state education officials on Aug. 29 that they had canceled the program in an effort to reduce federal spending on education.
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The Wilmette Police Department has debuted a co-responder unit, the result of a plan to provide “a more specialized and compassionate response to calls involving mental health crises and other vulnerable populations such as people who are unhoused,” according to a Village of Wilmette release.
The Village Board approved the plan, which involves increased resources, in March of this year, as reported by The Record, and the police department has been developing the unit ever since.
The co-responder unit features community relations officer Carly Watson and department social worker Kevin Ockrim.
Watson is a seven-year veteran of the department who “has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to community engagement through various department-led initiatives,” the Village says.
Ockrim, a new hire, previously was a social worker at Grayslake High School.
“Patrol officers have traditionally served as short-term problem solvers for people experiencing longer-term and complex mental health challenges,” Police Chief Michael Robinson said in the release. “The Co-Responder Team represents a shift in that model, offering an alternative approach by addressing these calls with a blend of law enforcement presence and clinical social work support, allowing for on-the-scene crisis de-escalation and connection to further treatment or services.”
The unit will provide immediate response to mental-health-related calls, which will relieve patrol officers to respond to other calls, and will be “uniquely positioned to offer consistent follow-up and connect individuals with the robust network of social services available in the area,” according to the department.
Highland Park’s new website now up
The City of Highland Park has unveiled a new website, which it says offers “improved navigation, easier access to high-interest topics, and a robust accessibility suite to enhance access to information.
The City created the below tutorial video to highlight the new features.
Improved functions include:
• Content sections on the homepage, • A new calendar that pulls in events from Enjoy Highland Park, a marketing arm of the City, • New menus to find information by topic or department, and • Website language translation and accessibility functions to serve more residents.
The City is warning residents that the website changes may have altered URLs that residents have visited, making them difficult to find. If you have trouble finding information on the new website, contact the city manager’s office at (847) 926-1000.
Wilmette Avenue crossing to reopen Oct. 2
The Union Pacific Railroad crossing at Wilmette Avenue in Wilmette is closed for construction through at least Thursday, Oct. 2, according to village officials.
The closure reportedly is required for the railroad to complete necessary maintenance to its infrastructure at that crossing. Detour signage is present in the area, directing traffic to Central Avenue.
For more information, contact Village Engineer Dan Manis at manisd@wilmette.com or (847) 853-7602.
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As part of a corporate move, the Starbucks in Glencoe was one of approximately 200 locations nationwide to permanently close, signage on the location’s entrance confirms.
The Village of Glencoe also said in its weekly email that it was notified on Friday that the Starbucks at 347 Park Ave. would shutter on Saturday, Sept. 27, after about 25 years in business.
“We are saddened by this unexpected news,” the Village message says. “Starbucks has been a part of our business community for 25 years, and we appreciate how it has contributed to the vibrancy of our community during that time.”
The email adds that the Village is working with the site’s property owner on what may come next for the now-vacant storefronts in the heart of Glencoe’s business district.
The closure of the Glencoe Starbucks reportedly is part of the coffee giant’s “Back to Starbucks” strategy that CEO Brian Niccol described in a message to employees on Thursday, Sept. 25, according to reporting from USA Today.
In his note, which was posted to a Starbucks.com blog, Niccol announced the company would close approximately 1% of its stores “where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance.”
Niccol says in the message that the company is “working hard” to offer transfers to employees of now-closed locations.
A corporate letter is posted on the door at 347 Park Ave. It reads in part, “We’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to close this Starbucks location. We know this may be hard to hear — because this isn’t just any store. It’s your coffeehouse, a place woven into your daily rhythm, where memories were made, and where meaningful connections with our partners grew over the years. We’re deeply grateful for the community that’s been built here.”
An unofficial but open Google document has been tracking the closures and lists 20 in Illinois. Most of them listed in the document are located in Chicago, and Glencoe is the only location in the northern suburbs.
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The Winnetka Park District is “staying the course” with its plans for Centennial Beach’s dog beach despite a staff-developed alternate some Park Board commissioners believe would be a “wonderful” change of direction.
Following a directive last month from the board to review possible revisions to the district’s designs for the project, commissioners during their Thursday, Sept. 25 meeting heard a proposal from top park officials to reimagine several key elements of the permit plans.
Costa Kutulas, the district’s director of parks and maintenance, showcased a modified design for Centennial’s dog beach that would essentially allow passage across all of Centennial Beach for patrons without dogs.
In a district memo to commissioners, Kutulas said the new design would avoid the addition of new “physical obstacles” along the beach by eliminating two perpendicular fence runs. The new alternative, he said, would instead utilize existing steel groins along the shoreline as structural foundations for the new fencing.
According to Kutulas, the alternate concept would require relocating the current key fob entry gate to a new proposed walkway extension that would allow for “a controlled access point at the boundary of the proposed northern fence line. Doing so would make way for public access from the park level to the northern sections of Centennial Beach without the need for a dog beach pass,” per Kutulas.
While the majority of commissioners expressed general support for the pitch, the board reached a consensus to not yet further explore it given that changes to the design would likely require a new round of reviews from permitting agencies, pushing the district back in the necessary review process.
“I do like this plan because it encapsulates a lot of thoughts and comments that the park district has received on its current temporary fence permit but my concern is timing,” Park Board President Elise Gibson said. “I do think that putting this system in will seriously delay the time that we can have an off-leash dog park because it was indicated that we would have to go through the public comment process again.”
Commissioner Christina Codo, the board’s previous president, said she was grateful for staff’s work on the plan, calling it “elegant.”
“I think this is good work,” Codo said. “This shows good effort to accommodate some of the concerns that we’ve heard from the public and I think we should definitely keep it at the front of the list of amendments we may be making.
“I also think we have to see what feedback we get from the lakefront liaisons with regard to how we adjust our plan and improve our chances for the special-use permit.”
Commissioner David Seaman called the alternative a “wonderful idea and plan.” Seaman lauded the plan for addressing three of the key resident desires: passage for patrons without dogs across all of Centennial, less overall fencing and removal of the need to touch the bluff.
Background
As previously reported by The Record, the park district installed a temporary fence at the Centennial dog beach along the northern and southern property lines in the winter of 2023; however, that fence was removed and the project tabled “due to a lack of permitting approval,” park district staff said at the time.
This past March, the Park Board directed staff to put forward new plans for a temporary fence at Centennial after park officials said installing that fencing is necessary for the district to comply with the current Cook County Animal Control Ordinance.
Executive Director Shannon Nazzal said earlier this year that the district had received a call from Cook County Animal Control regarding what Nazzal characterized as “public concerns” about dogs being off leash in an on-leash dog area.
Park commissioners then in March agreed to move forward with temporary fencing at Centennial to alleviate the concerns.
But now six months later the district has still not been able to install the fencing as it continues to make its way through the necessary permitting process.
Although the district has progressed through most of the permitting stages required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, officials have still not heard back from the Village of Winnetka. Park Board attorney Adam Simon previously said the district submitted its permits for the temporary fencing to the village in mid-May.
The park district’s push to install fencing at Centennial comes as the district also tries to advance its much larger-scale efforts for a series of updates at both Elder Lane and Centennial beaches. Through that process, the district is hoping to determine a permanent solution for the dog park area at Centennial.
Park officials, as reported by The Record, announced in late June of this year that the district would pause its previously submitted special-use permit application for work at both beaches with the hope of revising project designs and addressing negative feedback received from Village of Winnetka advisory boards.
During the board’s August meeting, commissioners directed staff to solicit proposals for a lead engineer for the project. Park staff will present recommendations for that engineer to the board during its Oct. 23 meeting, Kutulas said.
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Giants with momentum are difficult to stop, as the Cougars of Vernon Hills found out Friday night.
Highland Park football scored at will in their Central Suburban North opener Sept. 26 in Vernon Hills, routing the hosts 35-7 to improve to 3-2.
The Giants’ victory follows two straight two-point losses that each featured slow starts from Highland Park.
”We’ve been struggling in the past couple of games to kind of get off to a good start,” senior receiver Lucas Gordon said. “We did that tonight and we got in a rhythm on offense. And we had a lot of confidence in our offense, so when we’re not turning the ball over, playing mistake-free football, I think we’re pretty hard to stop.”
An 80-yard touchdown run is always effective to that end.
After the Giants defense stopped a promising Cougars’ drive, the offense took over and handed the ball to junior Jayden Corchado, who broke loose for the long scoring jaunt.
Corchado is finding much more success in his second year as Highland Park’s tailback.
”He’s been having a pretty good year. It’s awesome,” Giants coach Anthony Kopp said of Corchado. “It’s always big to have like big-play ability. He did a good job of just seeing a crease there and hitting it and then also to keep going through contact, which with those kind of big runs it’s not always untouched. Normally you have to break a couple tackles, so that was good to see from him.”
The rout was on from there.
Gordon and junior quarterback Gustav Crane connected on a 60-yard scoring strike early in the second quarter and a 1-yard touchdown to make the score 21-7.
Vernon Hills’ only score on the night came on a second-quarter kickoff return.
But the Cougars threatened to close the gap before halftime, driving into the Giants’ red zone. An interception ended the threat.
Highland Park’s defense also had a fumble recovery (John Boman) on the night, and the unit’s play was a major highlight for Kopp.
”[The defense was] just playing as a team, playing fast, physical football, rallying to the ball,” Kopp said. “Everyone keeping it simple and just playing fast.”
Highland Park put the game out of reach in the third quarter.
Crane and Gordon connected on 51- and 12-yard passes to set up a 1-yard Boman scoring run.
And on their next possession, the Giants scored on a 12-yard strike from Crane to junior Max Stevens.
Crane threw for 188 yards and three TDs, and added 40 rushing yards, while Gordon caught five balls for 130 yards and two scores.
Led by Crane, the Giants racked up 190 rushing yards.
“We had to bounce back in a big way after two losses that we practically should have won,” Crane said. “It was a good morale boost to win this game big and get a win in conference. Let’s go.”
The Giants return to friendly Wolters Field on Saturday, Oct. 4, for a difficult 1 p.m. matchup with CSL North power Maine West (2-3), 41-33 winners against Niles North on Friday.
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Homecoming brought out the best in Loyola Academy football.
The winners of the last three IHSA Class 8A state championships rebounded from the 22-point loss to Brother Rice that ended their winning streak at 13 games by coasting to a 42-14 victory over 2024 Class 4A champion DePaul Prep on Friday night, Sept. 26, at Hoerster Field.
In addition to this being homecoming, it was the first home game of the season for coach Beau Desherow’s team (3-1). The second half of the regular season will consist of a home game against St. Ignatius on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 4, a road trip to Providence Catholic on Oct. 10, and home games against Carmel Catholic on Oct. 17 and Mount Carmel on Oct. 24.
The score of the DePaul Prep game wasn’t indicative of how one-sided it was. Desherow began subbing in the third quarter and had third and fourth stringers on the field in the fourth quarter.
Ironically, DePaul Prep (1-4) scored the first touchdown of the night, following Loyola’s lost fumble on the opening kickoff.
DePaul’s lead was short-lived. Senior Konnor Sayer ran the kickoff back to the Loyola 44 and seven plays later sophomore Matthew Lee hurled a 20-yard pass to junior Charlie Fowler, who made a diving catch in the end zone, and Zak Zeman’s extra-point kick tied the score.
Zeman’s kickoff to the end zone produced a touchback and the Rams were unable to advance from their 20-yard line and had to punt. Senior Robert Clingan made a fair-catch at the Ramblers’ 49 and on the second play from scrimmage Lee found Fowler open up the seam, and the tight end took the football down the field for a 43-yard touchdown, giving Loyola the lead.
Thereafter the outcome was never in doubt. The Ramblers were on cruise control.
“Charlie was one of my main targets last year on the sophomore team so we have that chemistry going for us,” Lee said of his collaboration with Fowler on the two big touchdown plays.
“As a team we did a great job of getting back on track. My goal was to be off the field (because the Ramblers were far out front) by the second half and that’s what happened.”
The TDs were the first of Fowler’s varsity career.
“I put in hard work all week in practice and it paid off,” Fowler said.
“He had his coming out party tonight,” Desherow said. “He was great all summer (at practice) and I’ve been waiting for him to have a big game.”
In the second quarter Loyola scored three unanswered touchdowns — on a 3-yard run by Melo Maldonado, a 49-yard breakaway by fellow sophomore Jayden Garrett for his first career TD, and a 2-yard run by senior Cody Reilly.
Melo Maldonado takes a hand off on his way to a big gain for the Ramblers.
Zeman’s fifth extra point made the score 35-7 at halftime.
As was the case with Fowler, Desherow wasn’t surprised by Garrett’s derring-do: “Jayden was a little banged up at the start of the season; now he’s healthy and feeling good.”
“We told Jayden to trust us,” said senior Colin Vardifan, speaking for his fellow offensive linemen (seniors Tommy Fraumann, Liam Walsh and Henry Lemmon and sophomores Brock Thompson and CJ Nielsen). “We’ll give you the holes and you go right through them.
“We have some studs and tonight we wanted to make a statement. Our (offensive line) coaches (Mike) Kotowski and (Mike) Herbert gave us everything we needed in terms of preparation.”
In the third quarter, the rout continued when Garrett ran 17 yards for his second touchdown and, with Zeman getting the second half off, senior Tommy Mitchell kicked the extra point.
The game was long gone by the time sub quarterback Blake Yucan passed 25 yards to Matthew Osterman for the second DePaul TD with 3:16 to play.
After scoring six touchdowns in his first two games, Jordan McKinley failed to score but the big and strong sophomore wide receiver continued to make an impact by drawing the pass interference penalties that were instrumental in two of the touchdown drives.
Junior linebacker Gus Vollmer’s fumble recovery at the Rams’ 42 was the catalyst for the last of those drives.
There were many other bright spots in the compelling conquest.
According to Desherow, sophomore linebacker “Will Mettee was all over the field making things happen. (Senior linebacker) Charlie Devine came in and made a big play in the second half by getting a sack.”
Fraumann pointed out Garrett and Maldonado provided diversity to the Ramblers’ running game: “Melo is more of a side-to-side runner while Jayden is more straight ahead.”
Ramblers cornerback Rob Simmons makes a tackle near the goal line with Will Mettee coming in for backup.
Junior quarterback Dom Maloney, who started the Ramblers’ opener but was injured in the fourth quarter and has since then played behind Lee, was on the field for much of the second half, and gave a good account of himself before Desherow gave Mitchell some reps in the closing minutes.
“I feel like I’m making progress,” Maloney said of his recovery from the hip and leg injuries he sustained in the opener.
“Tonight everyone did their jobs. Our receivers blocked well on the perimeter, Matthew was on target with his passes and our running backs hit the holes. Jayden Garrett is starting to assert himself. I think he’s going to be a big part of our offense the rest of the season.”
Junior wide receivers Brendan Fitzgerald and Joe Haughey made receptions that contributed to the success of the passing game.
Senior running back Murph Hesburgh got some significant playing time for the first time this season in the third and fourth quarter and broke loose for a 29-yard carry.
Overshadowed by the Ramblers’ finest offensive performance of the season was their strong play on defense.
“We came out there and played a physical game,” said senior Kai Calcutt, a standout on the defensive line. “It was a good bounce back after Brother Rice.”
Desherow rewarded his Ramblers by giving them the rest of homecoming weekend off.
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