Victory a kick for Hinsdale South
Hinsdale South's football team hasn't made a run like this in 10 years.
The Hornets celebrated accordingly Friday night.
Rallying from a 2-touchdown deficit in the first quarter, Hinsdale South pulled out a 17-14 overtime victory over DeKalb in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs in Darien.
“We just kept our heads in it,” said Hinsdale South quarterback Rob Regan. “We knew if we could get one on the board, then it's a one-score lead. We just kept our heads up.”
Nathaniel Michaelis kicked an 18-yard field goal to start overtime and Hinsdale South's defense went back to work to seal the win. The unit followed three shutout quarters by also holding the Barbs scoreless on four downs in overtime.
Second-seeded DeKalb (9-2) fumbled a pitch and recovered it on first down, and then a sack pushed the Barbs to third-and-goal at the 19. An incomplete pass made it fourth down.
DeKalb lined up for a 36-yard field goal after a Hinsdale South timeout. With quarterback Derek Kyler acting as holder and Illinois-bound running back Dre Brown on the edge, however, the No. 10 Hornets (9-2) sniffed out a fake.
Kyler took the snap, rolled to his right and lofted the ball into the end zone, but it bounced off a DeKalb player and fell incomplete to end the game. The Hornets flew into mass celebration as the program advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2005.
They'll face Saturday's winner between Lakes (9-1) and St. Francis (8-2). The Hornets would be at home against Lakes, but on the road against St. Francis.
“We were able to put away the game at the end,” said Hinsdale South coach Mike Barry, “which really shows our guys will never, ever give up. And I'm so proud of them.”
Brown dominated early, rushing for 67 yards on his first two carries including a 46-yard touchdown run on the Barbs' first possession. Brown's interception later in the first quarter led to Kyler's 6-yard scoring run and a 14-0 lead.
Hinsdale South slashed the deficit in half by halftime when Regan threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Boye. The Hornets knotted the score at 14 apiece late in the third quarter when Regan, who rushed for 158 yards on 25 carries, used a 28-yard run to set up his 1-yard keeper for a touchdown.
Despite four turnovers the Hornets persevered and leaned on a defense that in the second half forced five punts and snared two interceptions. And after surrendering 67 yards on those first two runs, the defense also held Brown to 91 yards on 16 carries.
“It just feels great,” said Hornets defensive back Robert Hall. “We came in with a game plan and executed well.”
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