ETHS Girls Dominate No. 1 Ranked Willowbrook

The emotions spilled out and tears flowed Saturday at Lazier Field for the 10 seniors who helped build Evanston’s girls flag football program from scratch.

But no one felt worse than Willowbrook.

The Wildkits shocked the top-ranked Warriors 33-0 in the regular season finale, regaining the momentum they had lost with postseason play just a week away and delivering a statement that they may be the team to beat in the Illinois High School Association state tournament series now that they’re healthy again.

Sophomore quarterback Ava Bellis threw five touchdown passes --- two to KyNia Hunt and one each to Brielle Rosemond, Katie Lindsay-Ryan and Ava Sacluti --- and Hunt snatched a school record four interceptions as Evanston dominated the previously unbeaten Willowbrook squad on both sides of the ball.

Evanston finished the regular season with a 14-2 record and will open regional tournament play on Oct. 5 at New Trier and will have the home field advantage if they can advance to the Evanston Sectional.

Head coach Carlton Rosemond was just happy to have everyone back in uniform after the Kits were down four starters in a lopsided loss to Glenbrook South earlier in the week. They bounced back from that defeat with a 34-0 trouncing of Maine West and then knocked Willowbrook from the unbeaten ranks with another shutout.

The Senior Day celebration marked the last home appearance in the regular season for seniors Meri Croft, Hunt, Rosemond, Lindsay-Ryan, Mikayla Sewell, Nikki Dandelles (two sacks), Tariah McLendon (seven flag pulls) and Adaoma Udoku, along with Camille Calixte, who missed the entire season with an injury.

The ceremony honoring that group hit home for Rosemond and not just because he has two daughters who will graduate next spring.

“I talk with them all the time about the legacy they will leave behind them. It was a super emotional day today for all of us,” said the ETHS coach. “I was a mess. I broke down and cried four or five times, at least. And we picked a really good time to put together a complete game on offense and defense.

“Ava Bellis (25 completions in 41 passing attempts for 273 yards) was masterful today. She played a really great game. She did everything she needed to do, and she didn’t put the ball in harm’s way. And my two All-State daughters did a great job, too. Brie (11 catches for 98 yards) did a good job of orchestrating a lot of the offense to get us going, and KyNia wanted to show everyone she was back (from an ankle injury and illness last week) and was able to anchor our defense again.

“It’s a difference of night and day when we have both in the lineup because you can’t double-team both of them. It’s hard for other teams to choose just who you want to give opportunities to. You have to constantly identify just where No. 14 (Hunt) and No. 24 (Rosemond) are.”

Evanston built a 20-0 advantage by halftime and that comfortable cushion allowed the coach a chance to give some seniors extended playing time for a change.

“Seniors like Mikayla (Sewell) and Adao (Udoku) got to play 95 percent of the game, and for them to put up the defensive effort they did was really something. They were up against a top 10 team in the state and they didn’t give up anything,” Rosemond noted.

“We wanted to make a statement today --- and we did. I didn’t see us being as dominant as this coming into the game. I was worried we might not be ready because of the emotions of the day. This is a special group --- they’re the ones who started this --- and I’m just so proud of them.”