After facing two very talented out-of-conference teams in Schaumburg and Warren, the New Trier football team remains undefeated with a record of 2-0.
During the first quarter of the game at Schaumburg, the score was tied at seven after senior halfback Caleb Roth scored the first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard touchdown run. The game was then delayed for two hours with 6:31 remaining in the first half. Once play resumed, New Trier took control of the game. Sophomore quarterback Clay Czyzynski, in his varsity debut, threw a 24-yard strike to senior wide receiver Scott Hammes for a touchdown early in the third quarter. The rest of the game would be all New Trier.

Senior offensive and defensive lineman James Doan thought his team responded well to the delay.

“We dealt with a lengthy delay and still came out full of energy,” said Doan. “By no means were we perfect, but we have a lot of positive things to build on.”

Head coach and former New Trier alum Brian Doll had a successful coaching debut.

“We were very focused for the hour and a half that we had to wait and our seniors showed a lot of leadership to stay focused,” said Doll.

The Trevians outscored the Saxons 27-7 in the second half. The team had 422 total yards on offense. Senior halfback Kevin Mulhern ran for 193 yards on 24 carries, including a 53-yard touchdown.

Mulhern said, “After a shaky start we ran the ball down their throats, and our offense started to really step on the gas. We were efficient passing and running, plus our defense and special teams played very well.”

The Trevians had not won an opening game since 2010, and they avenged their 34-20 season-opening loss to Schaumburg with the 34-14 win.

Doll said, “It’s a big deal for the program, the school, and the community. I set a goal to win the first game when I came here and we accomplished it.”

After beating Schaumburg, the Trevians hosted Warren in their home opener. Their impressive victory over Schaumburg helped create a different atmosphere for this contest, despite losing 42-6 to the 20th ranked Blue Devils last season. New Trier students tailgated before the game, and the student section was full 15 minutes before kickoff. After a back and forth first quarter, the game remained scoreless. With 7:33 remaining in the second quarter and Warren driving at midfield, senior defensive back Nick Krauskopf broke up a pass, deflecting it to junior linebacker Colin Casas who returned the interception for a 60-yard touchdown.

After the Casas pick-six, Warren marched down the field and tied the game at seven after senior Caleb Reams, an Illinois commit, caught a 17-yard touchdown pass with 2:28 left in the first half. New Trier then responded with another Casas interception, as the junior linebacker picked off his second pass of the game on Warren’s first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. The game would remain scoreless until the fourth quarter, when the Trevians got the ball back with 2:33 remaining in the game. They drove 55 yards in seven plays, eventually finding the end zone courtesy of a 3-yard touchdown run from Roth with 23 seconds left to break the 7-7 tie. New Trier came away with the 14-7 victory and a 2-0 record to start the season, the first time they have won their first two games since 1996.

“Warren is a good team but we knew that we had the potential to beat them and we executed our game plan,” said Doan. “We were very confident about the game. They are a strong team but we executed and won.”

With such a great start to their season, this team, loaded with athletes and veterans, has high hopes for the rest of the season (including a lengthy postseason).

“Our eventual goal is a state championship, but we have to take it game by game and that starts with taking control of the schedule,” said Mulhern.

Doll said, “If we focus and we take care of things, we can control winning conference games and then start winning playoff games.”