While plenty of former students came back to New Trier for Friday’s homecoming game, the most notable returnees may have been the four current Trevian football players who were back from injury.
Senior Frank Nicholas, who began the season as the starting quarterback, returned as a starting safety after missing a month with a shoulder injury. Senior offensive tackle Rijad Pekmez, who tore the ACL and damaged the meniscus and cartilage in his left knee in Week 1, came back for the first time.
Additionally, senior nose tackle James Doan and senior receiver Spencer Cotten returned after missing the previous week’s loss to Glenbrook South.
Their presence appeared to give New Trier a much needed lift.
After losing twice by a combined score of 84-31 in the two previous weeks, New Trier (4-4 overall, 2-2 CSL South) looked like a team transformed, dominating playoff-bound Niles West 36-7.
Even New Trier’s star player from Friday night, junior running back Kevin Mulhern (29 carries for 269 yards and five touchdowns), was only a week removed from his own return from injury.
“Watching film of New Trier, they have been beat up all year. They weren’t tonight. That’s a good football team.” Niles West coach Scott Baum said after his team’s loss to the Trevians.
At 7:30 p.m. Friday the Trevians visit rival Evanston (5-3, 1-3) knowing they must win in order to return to the playoffs for an 11th straight year.
New Trier coach Dan Starkey said he has not shied away from talking to the team about what’s at stake.
“We’ve already talked about that and that (Niles West) was a playoff game for us,” he said. “The kids understand this is something we want to keep going, that we want to keep that streak going.”
Senior defensive lineman Jack Johnson said the team has embraced the situation.
“[Niles West] was like a playoff game for us. It’s make or break from here on out. But that’s fun, it makes it more fun,” he said. “Evanston is always a good game and it’s their [Senior Night]. It will be a great atmosphere [Friday night].”
The returnees have provided a physical and emotional boost.
The defensive backfield, which has had its struggles this season, clearly benefitted from the presence of the athletic Nicholas at safety. He had a pass breakup and a big hit and looked fairly comfortable in an unfamiliar position.
“Frank adds a lot with his athleticism, speed and strength,” Johnson said. “It’s just nice seeing (the other team) throw it and turning around to see Frank back there batting balls and hitting kids. It adds a lot.”
Then there is Pekmez, the team’s emotional leader. Everyone calls him Pac-Man. The 6-foot-1, 285-pounder missed the final five games of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee. He worked his way back to health only to suffer a similar injury to the other knee in the first quarter of the season-opener against Schaumburg.
Pekmez declined surgery in favor of daily rehab.
There was a buzz in the stands and on the sideline when he made his return to the field late in the first quarter against Niles West. He saw limited action during the game, but made his presence felt on a few of Mulhern’s long runs. He also was effective up front in goal-line situations.
Pekmez couldn’t run sprints with the team during warm-ups, but nobody was complaining.
“[In rehabbing the knee] I didn’t work on sprinting 100 yards down the field,” Pekmez said. “I did work on going short distances and my footwork. That’s what I focused on while I was injured.”
Johnson seemed to speak for all the Trevians when he expressed his happiness at having Pekmez back on the field.
“Pac-Man, he’s been a leader all along [while injured],” he said. “Having him out there on the field and just chucking people and helping us get touchdowns, … it’s great to have him back.”
