By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle
The vaunted Cougar defense led by senior linebacker Connor Hall’s 15 tackle-night performance, prevailed 17-10, in another edition of the Plainfield Civil War. With the win over Plainfield North, Cougar head football coach Bill Bicker’s Cougars improve to 7-1 on the season.
With the win, Plainfield South Voyager Media Publications Week 8 Team of the Week!
After breaking his foot, three weeks ago, Cody Dieball returned Friday night. Dieball completed five of his six passes on the night for 81 yards, including a 17-yard scoring strike to Matt Fuller. Dieball ran for 78 more yards, while Julian Donahue led the Cougars with 81 yards and a 13-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Dieball, has now rushed for 454 yards this season with eight touchdowns.
‘It felt great to be back and on the field with my outstanding teammates,” Dieball said. “Its always great to pick up a win against our rival North. Our defense stepped up big time for us. Early on, the offense struggled but we really got going late in the game, to get the victory.”
Hall was all over the field, mostly in the Tiger backfield, with five tackles for losses, a quarterback sack and a fumble recovery.
“I love playing this game. I love being a part of this team,” Hall said. “We all have a tremendous bond with each other.”
Along with Hall, senior linebacker Jake Kendall and defensive end Adriel Montemayor have been stalwarts for the vaunted Cougar D, which allows just 10 points-per-game in 2018.
“All of us on the defense, have made a commitment to change the culture here at South,” Kendall said. “We work hard everyday and I am very happy, with our successful season, thus far.”
“We have prepped hard, every week of the season,” Montemayor said. “We all fly to the ball and have each others’ back.That is why we have been so successful.”
Although held to just 25 yards rushing against North on Friday Cougar leading rusher, senior Tod Bell, has run for 570 yards and has scored nine touchdowns on the campaign.
“I love playing with these guys,” Bell said. “Cody is our leader and I model my game after him. We have a friendly competition everyday.”
Kudos go out to the outstanding job, Cougar sophomore, quarterback, Niko Schultz, did in replacing Dieball. In three games, Schultz threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns.
Dieball, Bell, Hall, Connor and Montemayor, all echoed their praise for the Cougars’ young quarterback.
“I feel we should be 7-1 at this stage of the season,” Bicker said. “We have done, what we had set out to accomplish, in the way, we had set out to achieve, our success. We play an unpopular brand of football. Everything we do both on offense and defense, is very simple. People know what to expect when they play us.”
“I have been blessed to have great kids who are hard workers. They are smart, hard-nosed, kids who play the game the way its supposed to be played. Cody Dieball, is our great leader of our offense. When he want down, our sophomore Niko Schultz, did a great job. Niko is our future here at South. Niko will be a great player for us.
“In August, for us to be successful, we knew it would take everyone on our roster. On Friday against North, Julian Donahue, stepped up for us and had a great game running the ball. A brand new name, every game.”
The lone Cougar loss was to Oswego East 29-0, back on September 21. With seven time-defending Southwest Prairie Conference champion Oswego (8-0, 8-0) invading the South Side Friday night, a Cougar win would result in a share of the 2018 SPC title.
“Friday is a special night for us against a great Oswego team.” Bicker added. “The Panthers are seven-time defending SPC champions, for a reason. They have game-breakers all over the field on offense. Their offensive line is big and strong. Their defensive is very impressive.
“We have to play an almost perfect game, to beat them. We have to be able to run the ball and control the clock and our defense has to get us a couple of turnovers. It should be electric here Friday night. Everyone knows what we do. We just have to execute our game plan and we will be successful.”
“Oswego is a great team. I expect a low-scoring game, on Friday,” Hall added. “Oswego hasn’t met a defense, as mean as ours.We are ready!”