Wheaton Warrenville South outscored Lake Park 21-13 in the second half to pull away for a 31-19 victory on Friday, Oct. 9, celebrating Homecoming and Senior Night with a fourth straight win.

The Tigers improved to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the DuKane Conference, according to Shaw Local's Week 8 recap.

Senior linebacker Clark Jensen, a two-way contributor all season, set the tone early. He punched in a 3-yard touchdown run with 9:23 left in the first half, and kicker Drew Maletich added the extra point to put WWS up 7-0.

Lake Park answered with a pair of field goals, including a 43-yarder, to trim the lead to 7-6. Maletich hit a 23-yard field goal just before halftime, sending the Tigers to the break up 10-6.

The third quarter belonged to WWS. Running back Trent Simpson broke a 22-yard touchdown run with 9:56 left in the period to make it 17-6. Then junior quarterback AJ Rogers connected with Blake Ittersagen on a 60-yard scoring strike, pushing the lead to 24-6 at the end of the third.

Lake Park rallied in the fourth, scoring twice to close within 24-19 with 4:56 remaining. Rogers and Ittersagen answered with a 30-yard touchdown connection with 2:17 left. Maletich's extra point sealed the 31-19 final.

Rogers, who also threw two touchdown passes to Ittersagen in the season-opening win over St. Charles East, described the chemistry with his receivers after that Sept. 5 game. "Me and my receivers built a connection this summer, showing up and working together every day," Rogers told Shaw Local at the time.

Head coach Sean Norris has leaned on Rogers as a captain despite his junior status. After a Sept. 18 shutout of Glenbard North, Norris told the Daily Herald that Rogers has great command and called him a phenomenal leader.

Jensen, one of only six senior starters on the roster, reflected on the class's growth in the lead-up to Friday's game. As we reported Oct. 8, the Tigers carry just three seniors on each side of the ball, with juniors and a sophomore filling the rest of the lineup.

The win keeps WWS in the DuKane Conference title hunt. Geneva entered Week 8 at 5-0 in conference play. The Tigers travel to Batavia in Week 9, a game Shaw Local noted could put a share of the conference championship within reach if Geneva stumbles.