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player ready...Oak Forest could taste a homecoming victory with each yard it gained on what looked to be a game-winning drive Friday night against No. 17 Lemont.
Instead, the ball hit the ground on a routine handoff with 2:55 left in a South Suburban Blue rivalry game, and 6-foot-6, 290-pound Lemont lineman Ethan Pocic emerged with the ball.
Lemont then marched to the Oak Forest 10 and squeezed out an emotional 17-14 victory on Joe Hehir’s 27-yard field goal with 6 seconds left.
“I just shot the gap and saw the ball on the ground,” said Pocic. “I just got on the ball and came out with it.”
Christos Giatras ran five times in the game-winning drive, but Zach Brosseau’s quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches from the Bengals 26 allowed the Indians (5-0, 2-0) to bash deeper for Hehir and chew up more time.
Giatras carried 32 times for 162 yards and a touchdown, and Hehir added two first-half field goals. His first, from 36 yards, clanged off the right upright and fell across the crossbar. His second split the uprights from 32 yards.
“I’ve practiced that kick 100 times,” Hehir said of his winner.
“Every single time I’ve imagined that kick, it was against these guys. I’m lucky to finally get to do it.”
The Bengals (4-1, 1-1)kept the Lemont running game in check most of the night. Oak Forest just couldn’t overcome some unfortunate developments, starting with three-year starting fullback Matt Barry leaving after the first series with a knee injury.
Oak Forest led almost the entire game after scoring in the first quarter, then tied it 14-14 midway through the fourth on a 99-yard kick return by Corey Brent.
The Bengals were also driving into Indians territory when the key fumble happened.
“It was not our night (in terms of luck), but the kids played awesome,” Oak Forest coach Brian McDonough said. “We knew it was going to be decided up front, and it was. We hung in there, but we just fumbled the ball.”
Player of the game: Christos Giatras, Lemont, 32 carries, 162 yards, TD.
Key performers: Lemont — Ethan Pocic, fumble rec; Zach Brosseau, 9-for-14, 115 yards. Oak Forest— Kyle Hullinger, 1 catch, 6 yards, TD; Ben Santiago, 12 carries, 47 yards; Corey Brent, 99-yard kick return TD.