Hersey gives fans a kick with overtime win

Defense was the name of the game on Friday night at Hersey's Roland Goins Stadium.

And the names of Chase Bandolik, Will Trossen and Kamil Jackowski were among the key players in the overtime session who helped lift the Huskies to a dramatic 6-3 victory over visiting Conant.

Trossen's 21-yard field goal, his second of the game and fourth of the season, gave the Huskies the 6-3 lead in OT.

Moments later, Bandolik came up with a big third-down sack which pushed the Cougars into a 41-yard field goal attempt on fourth down.

Making that boot was hardly out of the question because Conant's JT Levitt had a booted a 47-yarder for the Cougars' only points in regulation.

However, this time, Jackowski gave Levitt no such chance.

Jackowski came flying off the line to block the attempt, and the Huskies starting flying toward each other to celebrate their second win in four games under first-year coach Joe Pardun.

"We talked about the adversity of having two touchdowns called back (a 65-yard interception return by Cole Monckton and 38-yard pass from Eric Portenlanger to Erik Anderson)," Pardun said. "The kids didn't let it bother them. I'm so proud of how they focused."

Bandolik, a senior inside linebacker, was focused on the Cougars' backfield all night, making several clutch tackles.

"I told Chase he was unbelievable," Pardun said. "And he deserves every single bit of it because he is one of the best I've coached in terms of work ethic and attitude. He is a kid who prepares better than anyone I know."

"Our defense was ice," Bandolik said. "Nothing was going to break us."

Conant (2-2) broke through first when Levitt kicked the 47- yard field goal with 3:11 left in the third quarter.

"We're disappointed but you've got to score more than a 47-yard field goal if you want win," said Conant coach Bill Modelski. "Our defense kept us in the game.

"We marched down the field and then little things hurt us. We had penalties come at inopportune times. But that's discipline. We've got to fix those things."

Trossen tied the game with 8:59 left in the fourth quarter when he booted a 27-yard field goal.

He then came back two plays later and picked off a pass that he returned 39 yards to the Cougars' 23-yard line.

However, the Conant defense was up to the task again, holding the Huskies to a 42-yard field goal by Trossen which hit right the right side of the cross bar and fell outside the post.

Trossen came up with another big play with 3:37 left in the game.

While punting, he had to scoop up a snap and then proceeded to quickly get off a 52-yarder that put Conant back on its own 9-yard line with 2:42 left in the game.

"It's fun," Trossen said of the pressure field goals he made. I like the pressure. I've been waiting since the Hoffman Estates game to be able to redeem myself with a field goal and we go it done as a team this time."

QB Kyle Bradley got it done rushing for Conant with 88 yards while running back Jake Jakubosky gained 60 yards.

But the Huskies' defense made sure they never gained the end zone.

"We play so many guys on defense," said Pardun, the Huskies former defensive coordinator. "We rotate about 20. I'm so proud of them all. It's really a team thing."