One thing to watch for next Friday night when Lakes takes on Antioch for the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division football title:
If Antioch can get the game into the second half without surrendering a zillion points, will Lakes run out of steam … tire and/or get worn down, if you will?
In the Eagles’ first four division games this fall, the competitive phase of each contest was over about a dozen minutes after the national anthem was played.
That included this most recent blowout — 52-0 over host Round Lake on Friday — a contest that Lakes led 35-0 after one quarter.
Lakes (6-1, 4-0) has now won its four division games by margins of 46, 43, 60 and 52 points.
Antioch took a 5-1 overall record into Saturday afternoon’s game at winless North Chicago.
On Friday, Round Lake (2-5, 1-3) could not stop the high-flying Eagles.
Junior quarterback Jordan Mercure and Jake Balliu connected on first-quarter TD passes of 62, 30, 16 and 21 yards. Mercure also had an 18-yard TD pass to Colton Jewell in the first quarter.
Mercure played only in the first half and was 10-of-17 passing for 235 yards and the five TDs. The Eagles’ last score was a short pass from Ethan Sage to Nick Hough.
Round Lake used two QB. Ron Steadman was 5-of-8 for 37 yards in the first half, and Cole Steger was 4-of-6 for 31 yards in the second.
Lakes played without star running back Devyn Cedzidlo and his backup, Isaach James, both hurting. James is expected to face Antioch and Cedzidlo looks to be out until the playoffs.
Lakes coach Luke Mertens is not getting wrapped up in the Antioch/Lakes intradistrict rivalry.
“Our focus is all about the state playoffs right now,” he said. “ We are going to rest guys who need it to get healthy and ready to play.”
Balliu had seven catches for 182 yards and is one of the area’s best all-around players.
“It’s a big game against our rival for conference,” he said of facing Antioch. “We just want to take one step at a time. The competition gets tougher and tougher as you go along.”
Mercure had a great game passing, but with the injuries, the Eagles’ ground game had just 68 yardss in the first half and one play over 10 yards.
“The O-line gave me plenty of time to throw and the receivers got open for me,” he said. “We didn’t run the ball too effectiely but we were able to score through the air.”
