The improbable run continues for Glenbrook South. Left for dead after an 0-4 start, the Titans evened their mark at 5-5 Wednesday after a thrilling 22-21 victory over Lane Tech in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs at Lane Stadium.
Glenbrook rallied from a 21-9 deficit with two touchdowns in the final 8 minutes. Doug Pollina scored his third touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run with 37 seconds left to tie the game at 21. Matthew Whitfield, who earlier missed two extra points after hitting a 25-yard field goal, nailed the extra point for the win.
“We capitalized and were opportunistic,” said Glenbrook South coach Bob Schoenwetter. “I told them at halftime (when Glenbrook trailed 14-3 and had been outgained 208 yards to 33) that if we lost it would be the last game for the seniors. We talked about pride and leaving everything on the field.”
The Titans came out and scored on their opening drive in the second half, going 66 yards in six plays. David Schoenwetter (9 of 24, 143 yards, one touchdown, one interception) connected with Pollina (six receptions for 118 yards) for a 54-yard touchdown pass to bring Glenbrook within 14-9. But Lane (6-4) responded when Matthew Miedona (185 yards, 22 carries) scampered 18 yards to make it 21-9 with 4 minutes left in the third period.
After pulling within 21-15, Glenbrook had a chance to tie with 3 minutes left. On fourth and 6 from the Lane 15, Lane defensive tackle Aaron Marshall sacked Schoenwetter, giving the ball back to Lane to run out the clock. Two plays later, Miedona fumbled at his own 22 and Tim Petrillo recovered to give Glenbrook its last chance. A pass-interference call against Lane put the ball on the Lane 13. Four plays later, Pollina scored.
Glenbrook will host Loyola in the second round.
St. Charles 17, Glenbard West 6: St. Charles (10-0) dominated on special teams. Chris Allen started the scoring with an 89-yard punt return and Brian Pallija ended it with a 26-yard field goal.
“The thing I had to be careful about was stepping out of bounds,” Allen said. “Once I was able to cut back, I just worried about my footing.”
Allen also scored on a 7-yard run.
In the third quarter, Matt Bowen hit Hasani Steel with a 90-yard touchdown pass for Glenbard (6-4).
Sandburg 23, Homewood-Flossmoor 16: Sandburg (8-2) rallied from a 16-7 halftime deficit to upset previously unbeaten H-F behind Kevin Singletary, who rushed for 162 of his 205 yards in the second half. Singletary finished with three touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions, while turning in a solid game at safety as well.
Singletary scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard plunge at the 3-minute-22-second mark of the third quarter. His 42-yard run set up the score.
Promoted this season after 14 years as sophomore coach, Sandburg’s Mike Navarro beat the team that trounced the Eagles 34-6 in Round 2 in ’92.
Stevenson 20, Buffalo Grove 14: Stevenson (8-2) built a 20-0 lead, then held off Buffalo Grove (7-3).
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Stevenson controlled the ball on the ground behind Faraji Leary (149 yards on 33 carries) and Jason Cato (93 yards on 24 carries). Stevenson scored first in the second quarter when Leary broke through on a 3-yard run to cap a 13-play drive.
The momentum carried over into the third quarter as Stevenson scored two more times, on a 3-yard touchdown run by Cato and a 6-yard ramble by Leary, to make it 20-0.
After Buffalo Grove reached Stevenson’s 32 with 2:02 left and the score 20-14, sacks by Roger Redmond and Regan Earl clinched the win.
Stevenson visits Libertyville (10-0) on Saturday.
Naperville C. 45, Waubonsie Valley 12: Ryan Booth carried 17 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Turnquist to lead Naperville Central (7-3). Turnquist completed 10 of 11 for 136 yards and one touchdown.
Marist 26, Bogan 0: Jeff Studnicka rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns and Brian Harmon grabbed a 10-yard scoring pass from John Zintak as Marist (8-2) rolled. Nirmal Sechkri added two PATs and a 21-yard field goal. Marist visits Lyons in Saturday’s second round. Bogan finished 7-3.