Just as Tom Zbikowski had an answer for everything Elk Grove’s defense threw at him Saturday, the Buffalo Grove junior quarterback was equally quick in responding to the question regarding the bizarre–some might say lucky–play that ultimately resulted in a 27-21 Bison victory in the Mid-Suburban East game.
“Things work out for you when you work hard,” Zbikowski said with a sheepish laugh.
Apparently so. With the score tied 21-21 midway through the fourth quarter, Zbikowski attempted a quarterback sneak from Elk Grove’s 1-yard line. Zbikowski was met head on by a defender and the ball squirted out of his hands and into the air. “I was just hoping someone from our team was there to fall on it,” he said.
The ball went about a yard behind the line of scrimmage and landed squarely in the hands of running back Nick Grippo, who plunged straight ahead for the winning score with 5 minutes 52 seconds remaining in the game.
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Following the serendipitous touchdown, Elk Grove (3-2, 0-1) marched 40 yards to Buffalo Grove’s 40 before defensive back Kyle Kalvaitis made a nifty over-the-shoulder interception in the end zone with 2:18 remaining to ice the win.
Zbikowski rushed for 130 yards, including a 15-yard TD run on the opening drive of the game, and completed 7-of-14 passes for 139 yards as Buffalo Grove went to 5-0 for the first time since 1986. He tossed touchdown passes of 63 and 19 yards to Steve Brown.
Sean Duncan.
Glenbrook N. 32, Deerfield 29
The smallest player at the Glenbrook North-Deerfield game, a meeting likely to decide the Central Suburban North champion, wound up making the biggest play.
Using every inch of his 5-foot-6-inch frame, Dan Schaechter outleaped two larger Deerfield defenders to haul in the game-tying touchdown pass from Kevin Kaspers with 24 seconds left in regulation. Schaechter’s effort set the stage for Tim Carroll’s decisive 20-yard field goal in the second overtime to give Glenbrook North the victory in Deerfield.
“He was the highest guy on the jump,” said Glenbrook North coach Frank Whalen of Schaechter’s 18-yard reception. “It was all heart.”
Also coming up huge for the Spartans (5-0, 1-0) was reserve running back John Hoppe. Coming into the game with only one carry and 6 yards, Hoppe rolled up 191 yards and two touchdowns (59 and 5 yards) in 32 carries.
Paul Ziemba (18 carries, 165 yards) had given Deerfield (2-3, 0-1) a seemingly comfortable 29-21 lead with 1:43 left in the game on a 58-yard burst.
However, Kaspers, who connected on only 6-of-17 attempts for 44 yards before the Spartans’ last drive in regulation, regained his touch when it mattered most and completed 5-of-6 passes for 69 yards.
Glenbrook North was missing suspended running back James Velissaris, who has 658 rushing yards, and receiver Sebastian Klosowiak, who missed most of the game with an injury.
Jonathan Schoenberg.
Loyola 27, St. Rita 22
Loyola used the element of surprise in the third quarter of the Catholic Metro Blue victory over St. Rita in Wilmette.
Trailing 13-7 in the third quarter, Chris Fox scored on a 4-yard run to put the Ramblers (4-1, 2-1) ahead by one.
Then Loyola shocked St. Rita by recovering an onside kick, leading to Fox’s 15-yard run three plays later that put the Ramblers up 21-13. St. Rita never pulled closer than five points thereafter.
Fox finished with 200 yards and three TDs in 25 carries.
“It was a pain sitting out last week [with strep throat], but this is a huge win for us,” Fox said.
“Once I got past the line of scrimmage, there were huge holes which resulted in huge yardage.”
Paul Standring was 10-of-17 passing for 96 yards and a TD and kicked field goals of 33, 42 and 27 to lead St. Rita (2-3, 0-3).
In other games
Hubbard 52, Carver 20: Antione Doby ran for 211 yards and two touchdowns in 29 carries as the No. 7 Greyhounds (5-0, 2-0) rolled in the Public Illini Southwest. The Greyhounds are now averaging 45.6 points per game this season.
David Connors was 9-of-21 passing for 182 yards and three TDs to lead Carver (2-3, 0-2).
Bolingbrook 44, Thornridge 6: Derell Jenkins was 15-of-24 passing for 182 yards and a touchdown as the No. 17 Raiders (4-1, 3-0) rolled in the SICA East. Kyle Williams had two rushing TDs to lead Bolingbrook, which was without running backs A.J. Johnson and Jermaine Austin because of injuries.
Downers Grove North 48, Oak Park 7: Jim Sharwarko ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns in 11 carries as the Trojans (2-3, 2-1) romped in the West Suburban Silver. Sharwarko also threw a TD pass.
Driscoll 21, St. Francis 0: Victor Arlis rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown in 17 carries as the Highlanders (3-2, 3-0) won in the Suburban Catholic. Greg Turner added 71 yards in nine carries and two touchdowns.
Highland Park 34, Maine West 28: Billy Bodle was 9-of-16 passing for 133 yards and three touchdowns for the Giants (3-2, 1-0) in the Central Suburban North.
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Hinsdale Central 21, Proviso West 6: Brad Bower threw three TD passes for the Red Devils (5-0, 3-0) in the West Suburban Silver. James Frazier put Proviso West (1-4, 1-2) ahead 6-0 early with a 5-yard TD run. After Greg Pace recovered Proviso West’s fumble at the Panthers’ 21 in the second quarter, Bower threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Pete Mangan to put Hinsdale Central ahead 7-6.
Holy Cross 26, Leo 20: Garrett Wolfe had 205 yards in 25 carries and two touchdowns to lead Holy Cross (3-2, 2-0) to the Catholic Metro Red win.
Kelly 54, Calumet 34: Andre Evans rushed for 404 yards in 32 carries and scored five touchdowns to lead Kelly (5-0, 3-0) in the Public Intra-City contest. Evans’ effort is the ninth-best rushing performance in Illinois history.
The last back to rushfor 400 or more yards was Rochelle’s Wes Sweger, who ran for 409 yards in 17 attempts against Spring Valley Hall last year.
Lake Forest 31, Antioch 14: Tyler Lowell threw four touchdown passes and Kiel Nelson had a touchdown run and catch for the Scouts (3-2, 1-0) in the North Suburban Lake.
Luther North 42, Rockford Christian 10: Mike Penkala ran for 222 yards and three touchdowns in 23 carries for Luther North (2-3, 1-1) in the Private League.
Montini 39, Marmion 7: Kevin Tyrrell had 189 yards rushing and four touchdowns as Montini (4-1, 3-0) rolled in the Suburban Catholic.
Nazareth 28, Hales Franciscan 6: Lawrence Cannon had 135 yards in 17 carries and scored three touchdowns–two rushing and one receiving–to lead the Roadrunners (4-1).
Niles West 43, Waukegan 28: Nick Frank scored on four short runs to lead Niles West (4-1, 1-0) in the Central Suburban South.
St. Viator 49, St. Joseph 0: Kyle Basanez threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more as the Lions (3-2, 3-0) rolled in the Catholic Metro Red.
Thornton Fractional South 35, Oak Lawn 6: Pierre Thomas rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns in 11 carries as the Meteors (5-0, 3-0) rolled in the SICA Orange.