A sign at the Maine South football team’s practice field urges the Hawks to “Stay the Course.”
It proved sound advice Saturday afternoon in Park Ridge. The fifth-seeded Hawks overcame a 15-point, third-quarter deficit by scoring the game’s final 26 points in a dramatic 39-28 win over 13th-seeded Naperville Central in a Class 8A quarterfinal.
Maine South went ahead for good on a 5-yard run by irrepressible senior running back Fotis Kokosioulis with 2:57 remaining.
“We do what we’re taught, just stay the course, and it will happen. (The opponent) gets tired. We’re in the best shape in the state,” said Maine South junior defensive lineman Jonny Halvorsen, a Park Ridge resident who had a fumble recovery, sack and key fourth-down tackle on Saturday.
The Hawks, the defending state champions, advanced to next week’s semifinals against top-seeded Lincoln-Way East. The Griffins are the only team to have beaten Maine South this season, prevailing 28-26 in Park Ridge in Week 2.
In last year’s quarterfinal, the Hawks defeated Lincoln-Way East 34-31 thanks to a last-minute drive and game-winning field goal.
Several Maine South players compared Saturday’s drama to that game.
Other longtime Hawks fans said the comeback and excitement against Naperville Central was reminiscent of the Hawks’ 35-34 win over Lincoln-Way in the Class 6A semifinals in 2000. In that game, Maine South overcame a 14-point deficit in the final seven minutes of regulation and won in double overtime. Maine South went on to win the state title.
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Hawks coach Dave Inserra, who was an assistant on the 2000 team, said the Saturday’s win may not have been on par with the 2000 classic.
However, Inserra said his team’s ability to fight back against the Redhawks when it was down 28-13 a minute into the third quarter was likely due to coaches and players who have been part of close, tense games in the past.
“We don’t panic, there was still (23 minutes let), you know, don’t panic, and do what we do,” Inserra said. “We always talk about how the coaches have been here before, the players have been here before. (We tell the players,) ‘Use that to our advantage. Don’t panic. Know what you’re doing and find a way to get it done.'”
Naperville Central (9-3) appeared to grab hold of the game just 42 seconds in the third quarter when senior running back AJ Deinhart (27 carries, 252 yards, two touchdowns) ran for a 53-yard score that put the Redhawks up 28-13.
Maine South (11-1) responded with a 12-yard touchdown catch by Kokosioulis. It was one of several big plays by the Northern Illinois recruit. Kokosioulis finished with 26 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Hawks said they felt they were back in the game when senior linebacker Andrew Masterson picked off a pass in Naperville Central territory with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter. Maine South didn’t score on the ensuing possession, but senior receiver Paul Sasso said it felt like something had changed.
“Although we didn’t capitalize (on the interception), that was the momentum-changer on our part,” said Sasso, a Park Ridge resident who had six catches for 61 yards and some key kickoff returns. “We realized the defense was making great plays for us, but now our offense had to step up. I think we turned the switch on.”
Inserra agreed that Masterson’s pick was a turning point.
“You’re looking at the clock, begging a little bit, ‘(We) just have to make one play,'” Inserra said. “Masterson has a huge interception. We didn’t get any points, but I think it changed our mindset. I think it changed the team and the (fans in the) stadium to, ‘Hey, we can do this.'”
Another key figure in the comeback was Maine South junior kicker Aiden Carolan. While he missed a 25-yard field-goal attempt after Masterson’s interception, he bounced back by hitting a 25-yarder and a 26-yarder to help the Hawks creep back into the game.
“I felt bad (after the miss), but my teammates had my back. They encouraged me to keep looking forward,” said Carolan, who lives in Park Ridge. “You always have to remember the ones you missed, but you have to know you can make the next one. That’s all that matters.”
Notes
*Maine South senior quarterback John O’Sullivan completed 30-of-50 passes for 370 yards and two touchdowns. Senior receiver Rory Hayes had nine catches for 85 yards and senior receiver Cam Stacy had five catches for 50 yards.
*Hawks junior Dylan Harris had an important fumble recovery on a Naperville Central kickoff return with 3 minutes gone in the fourth quarter.
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press