New Trier tops Waubonsie Valley in home-opener behind 17-point second quarter

Keefer Baxter thought the ball might be coming his way the moment he heard the play call. 

Only seconds later, Baxter’s intuition proved to be spot on as he hauled in a perfectly placed 45-yard touchdown pass from New Trier junior quarterback Jackie Ryder that sent Robert Naughton Field into bedlam. 

The aerial strike was the Trevians’ second touchdown in under three minutes of game time — and it gave New Trier a resounding lead that it refused to relinquish. 

Ryder and Baxter’s timely connection proved to be a crucial moment in the Trevs’ 24-14 win over the Waubonsie Valley Warriors Friday, Sept. 5, in Northfield, paving the way for New Trier’s second win to open its 2025 season. 

“I heard the initial call and I knew that I was just going to try and get into the end zone as fast as I could,” Baxter said. “The play all started up front with our offensive line. They gave Jackie some really good protection and then he just let it go. … I had an idea it was coming my way and I knew that I just had to try and make a play.” 

The Trevs fueled Friday night’s victory by jumping out to an early lead over the Warriors thanks to stellar play in the second quarter. 

Ryder put New Trier on the board with a spirited 27-yard touchdown scamper on a quarterback keeper called on the first play of the quarter. 

New Trier’s defense then forced a three-and-out and only three plays later, Ryder and Baxter teamed up to deliver the game’s signature moment. 

“I think in the first half we were able to open it up just a little more based on field positions,” New Trier head coach Brian Doll said. “We were able to take some shots down the field, and Jackie hit the big one to Keefer, which was really a big moment for us to jump out in front.” 

The Trevs took a 17-0 lead into halftime after they finished the half with an 11-play scoring drive capped off with a 26-yard field goal from James Kyria.

But Waubonsie Valley got right back into the game. The Warriors returned the second-half kickoff to New Trier’s 15-yard line and finding the end zone two plays later to bring them within striking distance. 

The Trevians’ offense, thanks to a great kickoff return of its own, had an answer waiting.

Junior Will Molloy exploded up the sideline to set up New Trier at the Warriors’ 33. The Trevs then finished off a seven-play drive when Ryder eluded pressure from Waubonsie Valley’s pass rush and tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to an open Harry Resis in the corner of the end zone. 

Waubonsie Valley found its second touchdown of the night in the waning moments of the third quarter via a 2-yard run.

New Trier didn’t allow the game to get any closer than that though, as the Trevs held the Warriors scoreless in the fourth. 

New Trier’s Week 2 performance was another strong outing for the group’s defense.

The Trevian essentially silenced the Warriors offense for the entirety of the first half, allowing just one first down through the opening two quarters. 

“I’m extremely proud of our defense,” junior linebacker Declan O’Meara said. “It’s a pure effort and energy thing.”  

O’Meara, who is also New Trier’s lead running back, once again was a key contributor for on both sides of the ball. New Trier’s two-way standout amassed eight tackles on defense and 66 rushing yards. 

Ryder delivered another impressive night under center. He finished 16-for-21 passing for 137 yards. He threw two touchdown passes and rushed in another. Ryder has yet to turn the ball over through two games and the Trevs offense as a whole has surrendered the ball just once. 

Senior Emmett Koshkarian was Ryder’s top target Friday night, catching seven passes for 32 yards.

The Trevians tight ends made their presence felt as well. Luke Mastros caught five passes for 40 yards while Resis snagged two for 14, including the touchdown. 

New Trier eclipsed the 20-point mark only twice all of last season. The Trevs have already matched that this year through just two games. 

“I feel like we’re confident,” O’Meara said. “We have a ton of returning guys, our whole O-line returned, and we took it seriously in the weight room. We’re stronger, we’re faster and we want to win so much more.”

New Trier will head back on the road next Friday, Sept. 12, for a matchup against the Hoffman Estates Hawks of the Mid-Suburban League.

MSL games have been particularly troublesome for New Trier of late as the Trevs have dropped eight of their last nine games against the suburban conference. 

But the Trevians are eager to reverse that trend next week. 

“We’re excited for the opportunity to play them,” Doll said. “It’s a great conference. Every school out there is a football school. I just know for us we’re taking it one game at a time and when we come on Monday, it will all be about being 3-0.

“We’ve got to be patient in our improvement in some of the things we know we can get better at but at the same time we have to realize that we’re doing OK right now.”

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