New Trier blows by Deerfield on homecoming, improves to 5-1 after another lopsided victory

It’s not always the case that offseason beliefs translate to on-field success. But summer’s convictions do sometimes fully flourish come fall. 

Fortunately that’s exactly what’s playing out so far for the New Trier Trevians, who entered training campus with the confidence that the 2026 team would feature one of the program’s best group of junior skill position players in recent memory. 

Wide receivers Paul Liang and Ben Sullivan, two juniors who were at the heart of the New Trier’s lofty preseason expectations, showed Friday night why all the hype was justified. 

The Trevs’ dynamic duo of Sullivan and Liang combined for 184 yards of offense and three touchdowns in just the first half alone during New Trier’s 42-0 shellacking of the Deerfield Warriors on Friday, Sept. 25 on homecoming night in Northfield. 

“I think we knew in the summer they were both special,” New Trier head coach Brian Doll said. “Our junior class has a load of receivers. It’s one of the stronger receiver classes I’ve ever had since I’ve been here, and it might be the strongest.”

With New Trier’s top rusher, Throy Nightingale Jr., sidelined in the Week 6 matchup due to injury, the Trevs knew they’d need to lean on their powerful passing attack early. 

And New Trier did just that, as quarterback Jackie Ryder threw four passing touchdowns on the Trevs’ first four drives of the game. Ryder delivered a splendid first half as he went 11-for-15 with 211 passing yards and four touchdown passes. He tacked on one more completion early in the third quarter before the Trevs’ starters were removed from the contest. 

“Jackie was on; he was just on tonight,” Doll said. “Everything we were throwing, the short stuff, the medium and long stuff, I thought he was extremely accurate tonight. He was poised and we had a lot of options with him.”

The Trevs went 80 yards in six plays to open the game. The series was capped off by Ryder’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Harry Resis. Sullivan, on New Trier’s first play of the night, caught a pass from Ryder and broke free for a 46-yard gain that put the Trevs immediately in Warriors’ territory.  

Sullivan snagged two more receptions on the ensuing drive, including a 24-yard touchdown grab. He finished the night with four catches for 84 yards. 

“I felt like I was due — I haven’t been able to get in the endzone all year, so that was a great feeling to score,” said Sullivan, who has come up just short of the endzone on a few occasions this season. 

The speedster wideout came up to varsity midway through last season and delivered several big catches for the Trevs. But this year, Sullivan has become one of the team’s top targets. He’s thrilled to see the success the junior class is having on varsity. 

“It’s great to see the juniors play a big role,” he said. “Next year we’re going to lose a lot of key players, so it’s good to get started in the right direction this year.” 

It was Sullivan’s classmate Liang who stole the show from there. Liang on New Trier’s third drive caught a short pass from Ryder before alluding several Deerfield defenders and racing home a 29-yard touchdown. 

Then, on New Trier’s next drive, Ryder and Liang connected once more, this time linking up for a 46-yard touchdown that put New Trier ahead 28-0 before half. 

Liang finished the evening with another big night for the Trevs as he caught five passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The varsity newcomer has been a fixture of New Trier’s offense this season. Liang leads the team in both receptions (30) and receiving yards (417) through six weeks. 

“It feels great,” Liang said of being able to contribute at such a high level on varsity. “I didn’t think that I was going to have this big of a role coming in my junior year. As a junior, there’s so much to look forward to. 

“I feel like I have such a big role this year but I’m so excited to see what can also happen next year with the team. But I also want to shout out to our seniors. I feel like they have made it so easy for me by being great leaders and I’ve been so comfortable on the field.” 

New Trier’s final two touchdowns of the night came courtesy of senior running back Donsley Lyman, who for the second week in a row delivered two scores for the Trevs. Lyman in the third quarter scored on rushes of 21 and 24 yards. 

The Trevs’ rushing attack continues to be a strength this season — and Lyman believes the chemistry among the team’s running backs is a big part of that. 

“It’s like one big family,” he said. “Everyone is doing their job. Everyone wants to go in and is ready to go in and everyone’s ready to step up.” 

That ground game is part of an offense that through six games has tallied a remarkable 267 points — a total that already surpasses the number of points the 2025 Trevians scored. 

“I think our offense has exceeded my expectations so much,” Liang said. “I knew we were going to be good, but not this great. We’re dominating right now. Our offensive line is playing great. Jackie is playing great. Our running game is crazy good right now and all our receivers are playing great. We have a great rotation going right now.” 

New Trier (5-1) will head back on the road next week for a matchup with the Maine West Warriors (1-5). 

The Trevs are hoping to keep getting a little healthier, Doll said, noting there’s a big final stretch of the regular season ahead. 

“We’re getting ready for some big games coming up and hopefully a deep playoff run and you have to be healthy to do that,” he said. 

Doll later added: “we know next week we have to go in and take care of business and we have to make sure that we stay healthy again and then we get the two final games, which are both great games. It will be fun.”

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