After being shut out in the first half by Wheaton-Warrenville South on Aug. 28, Lyons dialed up some changes.
The result? An 18-9 road victory.
“I would say that we made some offensive adjustments in the run game and in the pass game,” Beutjer said. “You look at the iPad over the course of the first and second quarters and you look at the film on the iPad.
“We just collaborated as a staff and communicated the plan with the kids and then they went out and executed it. There were some things that we thought should have been successful in the first half, but we just had some penalties and one or two guys weren’t executing to their full potential. When that happens in football, the chances of a play being successful go way down.”
Two-year starting running back EJ Kuhlman finished with 99 yards on 16 carries and scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter as Lyons moved ahead 15-9.
“EJ had a really strong season last year,” Beutjer said. “Specifically, the second half of the season for us as a running back. He set some records as a junior and I know he’s a horse.
“He runs really hard, he’s got great vision, he’s patient and he’s strong. He’s explosive and he’s a really good high school running back.”
The Lions also had an 18-yard TD run by Ben Sosne and Wolfie Ketterling’s 35-yard field goal.
Bloom 38, Argo 16: Chance Sanders threw a 34-yard TD pass to Vahkarie Dyer and Joey Alleruzzo scored on a 25-yard blocked punt return for host Argo (0-2).
Brother Rice 69, Woodlawn 0: Sam Holcomb was 8-for-8 passing for 181 yards and four touchdowns for host Brother Rice (1-1). Timothy Boler (three catches, 100 yards, three TDs) and Anthony Fratto (three catches, 59 yards, TD) were the leading receivers. Aydan Yarbrough scored two rushing touchdowns and Collin Cooper added another.
Evergreen Park 63, Longwood 6: Brady Bruen rushed for a 10-yard TD and threw scoring passes to Jake Bishop (2 yards) and Tyler Phelps (17 yards) for host Evergreen Park (2-0). Cory Isaac added a pair of TD runs, while Malcolm Shakir (run), Tyler Phelps (75-yard kickoff return) and Trevell Moore (run) also scored on offense. Nolan Kress has a pick-six.
Oak Lawn 58, Thornridge 16: Kamari Polk scored two rushing and two receiving touchdowns for host Oak Lawn (2-0). Polk finished with 111 receiving yards and 71 rushing yards. Danny Strelow passed for 154 yards and four touchdowns while Jayden Schlosser (28-yard TD) and Angel Chiquito (15-yard TD) added scoring catches. Lucas Rybicki and Matthew Walker also ran for scores.
Plainfield South 38, Andrew 23: Declan Murphy had a pair of touchdown runs and Jimmy Reilly threw a 23-yard TD pass to Ian Lopez for Andrew (1-1).
Reavis 33, Morton 20: Dardan Nreci (9 of 16 passing, 101 yards) threw for three scores and also carried seven times for 53 yards and a TD for Reavis (2-0). Christian DelBosque (11 carries, 61 yards, TD), CJ Arevalo (15 touches, 122 yards, TD), Ahmed Everette (five receptions, 47 yards, TD) and Jayden Chatman (two catches, 25 yards, TD) also scored. On defense, Reavis was led by Maciej Truty (six tackles, TFL, fumble recovery) and DelBosque (five tackles, two interceptions, sack, forced fumble, TFL).
Riverside-Brookfield 41, Hinsdale South 34: Braeden Novak scored on runs of 8, 17, 17 and 4 yards as Riverside-Brookfield (1-1) prevailed. Bryan Rimpila (2-yard run) and Gideon Bradford (6-yard run) also scored for the Bulldogs.
Shepard 7, Bulls Prep 6: Evan Heiden’s pick-six and Ashton Hite’s PAT kick lifted Shepard (1-1) to victory. Xavier Exum also had a key interception late and Jay Rone had two sacks.