Point taken: Buffalo Grove holds off Elk Grove
With less than a minute remaining in Friday's Mid-Suburban East opener at Elk Grove, Buffalo Grove's big comeback against the Grenadiers was about to evaporate into the evening mist.
The Bison had spotted the home team an early 14-0 advantage but then had scored 3 unanswered touchdowns to take a 21-14 fourth-quarter lead.
Elk Grove was able to put together a long drive and when Azeez Alabi scored on a 14-yard cutback run with 51 seconds left, and the Grens trailed only 21-20.
Elk Grove coach Larry Calhoun decided to go for 2.
"I'll probably second-guess that decision for awhile," said Calhoun, "but we had a 2-point (conversion) play that we were happy with."
And with the Grens only 3 yards away from taking their first win of the season, BG senior linebacker Johnny Asquini stepped up with the play of the game - and possibly the season - for the Bison.
Asquini broke through the Elk Grove line and sacked Grens quarterback Sean Fege just before the senior could get a pass away to what looked to be an open receiver.
BG covered the ensuing onside kick attempt to come away with the 1-point win.
"We were expecting them to throw a screen," said Pasquini of his stellar defensive play. "We had seen them run it a couple of weeks ago, where their quarterback would roll to the right and throw back across his body.
"We were ready for it."
The Bison were led in victory by senior John Maddox, who saw his first action at quarterback since his sophomore season, but was thrust into the spotlight Friday due to an injury to regular QB Trey Cervantes.
Maddox threw for 90 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score.
"I have to give it up for my offensive line, and all the guys really," said Maddox. "I couldn't have done it without them. This was a total team win."
Elk Grove got on the board with 2 second-quarter scores as Fege connected to Matthew Wary from 5 yards out, then threw a bubble screen to Nicolas Quirindongo for a 43-yard touchdown.
Down but not out, BG got back in the game near the end of the first half when Maddox hit Chris Beck with a 49-yard bomb for a TD.
"That play was huge," said Asquini.
"I just scrambled and was able to find (Beck)," added Maddox.
BG tied the game up in the third quarter on a 2-yard run by Dan Levato.
Elk Grove came up with a huge defensive stop midway through the fourth when Alexander Manahilov and Brian Keegan stopped Maddox on fourth-and-goal from the 1.
But three plays later a strong BG rush forced a short Grens punt, and the Bison capitalized when Maddox ran up the middle for a score from 3 yards out.
"This was a tough one to lose," said Calhoun, "because it was our first conference game. But I have to give credit to our kids, they battled out there tonight."
Elk Grove was able to rally after the ensuing BG kick, taking the ball right down the field and scoring on Alabi's run.
But their decision to go for the win instead of the tie didn't pay off and visiting BG walked away with its third win of the season.
The Bison are 3-2, 1-0 in the East.
"I was great to over the hump (and get that third win)," said Asquni. "We haven't been doing that well the last few years and it feels great now to see how all the hard work we put in during the summer is paying off."