Anthony Underwood’s 47-yard touchdown run with 6:21 left in the second quarter turned around a sputtering Niles West offense, leading to four straight scores as the Wolves opened the 2012 season with a 28-12 comeback victory over Westinghouse in Skokie Friday night. The senior running back rushed for 111 yards on 15 carries in the win.
“It was sweet,” Underwood said of his game-changing run. “It was the spark of the game. (Senior) Tommy Williams got a block inside. I pressed inside and cut outside, and I was gone down the field.”
Senior Mike McGivern split snaps with sophomore Tommy Galanopoulos for Niles West. McGivern threw two touchdown passes and ran for another. He found senior Jeremiah Jordan from six yards out with 1:07 left in the first half, before finishing off a 14-play drive with a 1-yard dive into the end zone with 8:01 left in the third quarter.
McGivern then connected with junior Andrew Milhulet from four yards out, taking advantage of a Westinghouse fumble on the kickoff.
“We’re playing with two quarterbacks; one runs more, but it’s something our opponents have to prepare for,” said Niles West head coach Scott Baum. “It increases the tempo, and the kids buy into it and respect both quarterbacks.”
Westinghouse senior James Graham led all runners with 116 yards on 14 carries, with a touchdown. Senior quarterback Eugenio DeJesus’ 18-yard touchdown pass to senior Deandre Welch gave the visiting Warriors a 6-0 lead with 37 seconds left in the first quarter.
