Hersey quarterback Owen Goldsberry took matters into his own hands Friday, including on the deciding play.
Goldsberry, a senior, scored two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns Friday to spark the Huskies to a 21-20 comeback victory at Rolling Meadows.
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With the win, the Huskies (7-1, 4-0 Mid-Suburban East) clinched the MSL East title. They own victories against the Mustangs and Buffalo Grove, both of which have one conference loss.
The Mustangs bottled up Goldsberry for most of the first half until he broke loose in the fourth quarter.
Hersey coach Joe Pardun said Goldsberry, an uncommitted recruit, has built a reputation for clutch performances.
“I have known Owen for a long time, and he always responds to those situations,” Pardun said. ” I wanted to see him in some adversity.
“I asked for two scores. I got three scores.”
Like nearly every game this season, Goldsberry had his footprints all over the box score. He rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 74 yards. He had TD runs of 6, 1 and 5 yards to engineer Hersey’s comeback and raised his season totals to 882 yards rushing and 945 passing.
“I just let the game come to me and trusted my teammates,” Goldsberry said. “We knew we were going to find a sliver. We are a dangerous team, and we knew they couldn’t hold us back the whole game.”
Goldsberry’s final TD run handed the Huskies a 21-20 lead with 5 minutes, 36 seconds left in the game. His next play, though, proved to be the game-saver. Despite playing defense in only a few series all season, Goldsberry played free safety for the final two series against Rolling Meadows.
He swatted away a potential touchdown pass in the end zone with about four minutes to go. The Huskies’ Zak Karman ended the threat with a fourth-down pass deflection.
“I’m a free man in coverage,” Goldsberry said. “Their guy did a double-move, and I just came over and made a play. I don’t practice defense. I just went in.”
As fireworks filled the sky Friday night, Rolling Meadows coach Matt Mishler praised Goldsberry for his fourth-quarter effort.
“He’s the best player in the conference,” Mishler said. “He’s an absolute stud. I thought our defense did a good job on him for most of the night. He got away a little late, and that was the difference.”
Goldsberry iced the game with a 13-yard run on fourth down.
Hersey’s Nick Steger said Goldsberry is the ultimate competitor.
“Owen does not get tired,” Steger said. “He has the biggest heart that I’ve ever seen. He’s always been running like that, but something has clicked this year.”
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press