With the Public League Chicago South title on the line, Julian coach Pete Thanos called for speedster Leon Ashby to take over.
The senior carried the ball eight of nine plays, concluding a 63-yard fourth-quarter drive with a 14-yard touchdown run as Julian (6-2, 5-0) topped Carver 20-8 Thursday for its first sectional championship since 1995.
“Everyone doubted us,” said Ashby, who gained 47 of his 56 yards in the game-winning drive. “We came from an 0-8 record in ’98 to this. Our [offensive] line did a great job all day.”
Ashby’s touchdown gave Julian a 14-8 lead with 5 minutes 3 seconds remaining. Carver (6-2, 5-1) drove to the 50-yard line but turned the ball over on downs with 3:01 to go.
“Leon was a change of pace,” Thanos said. “You go from a big, strong running back in [Shamaree] Siller to a jet, who also runs pretty hard. It causes defenses some problems.”
Siller, who had a big block on Ashby’s touchdown, handled most of Julian’s ground game through the opening three quarters, finishing with 105 yards in 28 carries.
“The fans got what they paid for,” Carver coach Willie Simpson said. “It was a tremendous game . . . a great victory for Julian. It’s a shame we had to lose, but our kids played so hard.
“You can’t ask for two better teams, undefeated in conference to have it decided this way. The ball just bounced [Julian’s] way today.”
The first bounce was a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown by Julian senior Jimmie Walton with 3:45 left in the first quarter. Siller scored the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Carver tied it in the third when quarterback Jerod Milan hit receiver Jason Avant on a 5-yard play with 1:19 to go. The two connected again on the two-point conversion.
The final bounce was when Julian was forced to punt with 35 seconds remaining. Ashby–also the punter–handled a bad snap, picked up the football, ran to his right and kicked the ball past the Carver defense for a 53-yard kick to the Carver 6-yard line.
Carver managed one first down, but Julian’s James Holmes intercepted a pass and ran the ball back for a 34-yard score as time expired.
Johnny Rosenstein.
Gage Park 32, Washington 6: Romell Funches caught two touchdown passes from Jermaine Govan as the Owls (7-1, 6-0) won the Public Chicago Central title. Govan was 7-of-15 for 122 yards passing and rushed for 75 yards. Lavell Simmons led Gage Park with 92 yards in 14 carries.
Leading 24-6 with 8:30 left in the third quarter, Gage Park stopped Washington on fourth-and-goal from the 3 when Gumerro Grigsby tackled Keenan Perry. Washington (5-3, 4-2) never had a serious threat thereafter.
Perry finished with 88 yards in 12 carries and a touchdown for Washington.
Taft 50, Sullivan 6: Tomorrio Anderson had two touchdown passes and returned an interception for a score as Taft (3-5, 2-3) romped in the Public Illini North.
Boys soccer
Evanston 2, Maine South 0: Phil Jones and David Pearson scored second-half goals as the No. 2 Wildkits (17-1-2, 9-0) won the Central Suburban South title. In the third minute of the second half, Jones took a feed from Max Barry and beat Maine South goalkeeper John Dwyer. Pearson added an insurance tally with just over 10 minutes left.
“We’ve been working on our possession soccer,” Evanston coach Tom Spiegel said. “We believe it’s the right system for us. When we play that style of ball control, we seem to get more shots.”
Maine South falls to 12-5-5, 7-1-1.
New Trier 0, Glenbrook South 0: Kevin Moore made 11 saves, including three within a minute in the second half, as the No. 5 Trevians (15-2-1, 7-1-1) preserved a tie with Glenbrook South in the Central Suburban South.
“Kevin played great,” New Trier coach Craig Fairbairn said. “Those three saves were unbelievable. All three of those were goals. We lose it if he doesn’t make those saves. Our keepers generally don’t make those many saves.”
Sean Gallagher made nine saves for Glenbrook South (8-7-6, 3-3-4).
Wheaton Academy 3, Glenbard North 2: Andy Howard had two goals and an assist to lead No. 7 Wheaton Academy (20-2). Adam Ruddle had both goals for Glenbard North.
St. Charles East 3, Bartlett 0: Chad Ransom scored two goals for the No. 10 Saints (10-3-4, 4-2-1) in the Upstate Eight. Grant Markgraf scored the other goal.
Argo 5, Richards 0: Juan Hernandez scored twice as Argo (13-2-2, 9-1) clinched its second consecutive SICA North title.
Bolingbrook 3, Reavis 2 (2 OT): Dave Beckett’s header off a Tony Fiaccato throw-in gave the Raiders (10-7-1, 8-2) the SICA North victory.
Bradley-Bourbonnais 4, Rich Central 0: Trent Heil, Josh Fightmaster, Scott Smith and Matt Taylor scored for the Boilermakers (13-5-2, 8-2) in the SICA South.
Hinsdale Central 2, York 0: Daniel Grasso and Thomas Richert scored for the Red Devils (12-6-2, 4-2) in the West Suburban Silver.
Lake Forest 3, Grant 1: John Grossi, Barrett Lowell and Chris Hall scored for the Scouts (14-4-2) in the North Suburban crossover.
Oak Park 2, Glenbard West 1 (2 OT): Eddie Jarrin scored the winning goal for the Huskies (12-3-1, 5-1) in the West Suburban Silver. Bob Moelter scored the tying goal with five minutes left in regulation.
Prosser 2, Lake View 1: Edder Avelos had the decisive penalty kick as Prosser (10-0, 10-0) won in a shootout in the Public Second Division. Juan Acevedo scored in regulation for Prosser.
Rich East 3, Crete-Monee 0: Bobby McCarthy, Scott Mattio and Andy Fine scored as Rich East (15-1-1, 9-1) clinched the SICA South.
Senn 6, Steinmetz 3: Elvis Fikic, Lopoi Boti and Dennis Okai each had two goals for the Bulldogs (7-3, 6-3) in the Public Premier.
Sycamore 2, Riverside-Brookfield 1: Steve Avell and Brandon Alexander scored for Sycamore (14-1-1, 9-1) in the Suburban Prairie White.
Warren 12, North Chicago 0: Jerry Carranza scored three goals and Jeremy Green and John Falk scored two goals apiece as Warren (10-5-5) rolled.
Waubonsie Valley Invitational: Julian Bottner scored as Wheaton North defeated Oswego 1-0.
Girls volleyball
Hersey d. Elk Grove 15-1, 15-7: Anny Price had nine kills to lead the No. 5 Huskies (23-1, 10-0) in the Mid-Suburban East.
St. Charles East d. Elgin 15-13, 15-1: Dani Nyenhuis collected 10 kills and seven digs and Lauren Harkes added 22 assists for the No. 6 Saints (26-2) in the Upstate Eight.
Barrington d. Schaumburg 15-2, 15-8: Daria Sak had five kills and Annie Spicer added seven digs for No. 10 Barrington (24-5, 10-0) in the Mid-Suburban West. Victoria Zimmerman contributed 15 assists for Barrington. Schaumburg is 15-13, 5-5.
Bradley-Bourbonnais d. Kankakee 15-2, 15-4: Amy Kurzweil had eight assists for Bradley (21-6, 8-0) in the SICA South.
Buffalo Grove d. Wheeling 15-2, 15-7: Kathleen Nowicki’s seven kills and six aces carried the Bison (21-8, 7-3) in the Mid-Suburban East.
Crystal Lake Central d. Woodstock 15-4, 15-3: Erin Fiene spiked nine kills and Sarah Benson tallied 27 assists for the Tigers (21-8, 7-5) in the Fox Valley.
Geneva d. Batavia 15-11, 17-15: Megan Hoffman tallied 14 kills, five blocks and 11 digs for the Vikings (20-7-1, 10-2) in the Suburban Prairie Red.
Genoa-Kingston d. Stillman Valley 15-2, 15-4: Kelly Wesemann tallied nine kills for Genoa (21-3, 8-1) in the Big Northern.
Immaculate Heart of Mary d. Maria 15-7, 15-4: Kelly Coleman had 10 kills and eight digs for the Tigers (22-8).
Neuqua Valley d. Larkin 8-15, 15-3, 15-13: Kelley Johnson tallied seven kills, five blocks and five digs for Neuqua (16-8, 9-3) in the Upstate Eight.
Trinity d. Lourdes 15-2, 15-7: Larryce Peoples had seven kills for Trinity (23-5) in the GCAC crossover.