Things looked bleak for Hinsdale South after DeKalb took a 14-point lead with 1 minute, 48 seconds left in the first quarter of Friday night’s Class 6A second-round playoff game in Darien.
The Hornets exhaled after DeKalb pass attempt on a fake field goal in overtime fell incomplete.
Behind the running of quarterback Rob Regan and a determined defense that shut out the Barbs over the last three quarters, the Hornets prevailed 17-14 in overtime.
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Nathaniel Michaelis kicked an 18-yard field goal in overtime and Hinsdale’s defense held to send Hinsdale South (9-2) to a quarterfinal next week against either Lakes or St. Francis.
“We fought adversity and did what we had to do,” said Hornets linebacker Chase Koziol, who had a tackle for a loss in overtime. “Coach said to hit them in the mouth, and that’s what we did.”
Dre Brown, an Illinois recruit, gave DeKalb (9-2) a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game on a 46-yard run. His interception set up a 6-yard scoring run by Barbs quarterback Derek Kyler late in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead.
“We knew we could get back in there with one score,” said Regan, who ran for 145 yards on 24 carries.
The Hornets had second-half interceptions from Robert Hall and Brett Kvasnicka.
Regan threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Boye with 4:34 left in the second quarter to cut the deficit in half. Regan’s 29-yard run led to his 1-yard TD to tie it with 2:11 left in the third.
Then it was the kicker’s turn.
“I had a feeling that something like that might happen,” Michaelis said. “I blocked everything out of my mind.”
DeKalb’s Kyler threw an incomplete pass into the end zone on a fake field goal attempt on the last play in overtime.
Player of the game: Rob Regan, Hinsdale South, 24 carries, 145 yards, 1 TD; 32-yard TD pass.
Key performers: Hinsdale South — Jake Hynek, sack; Chase Koziol, tackle for loss; Nathaniel Michaelis, 18-yard FG. DeKalb — Dre Brown, 16 carries, 88 yards, TD; INT.