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Rolling Meadows outruns Hoffman Estates

Rolling Meadows junior running back Kevin Lacosse scored his third touchdown with 5:23 left in the game, and it looked like the deal was sealed as the Mustangs led Hoffman Estates 33-13 in the continuation of Friday's suspended game.

That was before the Hawks rallied with 2 touchdowns in the game's final 4:31 before falling short 33-26 in the Mid-Suburban League crossover matchup Saturday afternoon.

“Our effort at the end of the game, not to quit, was excellent,” said Hawks coach Mike Donatucci. “The undisciplined defensive effort was atrocious and I blame myself for that. We have to play better.”

The Mustangs' ground game was in full gear, grinding out 70 rushing plays for 290 yards.

Lacosse was the recipient of his offensive line's blocking. He scored touchdowns of 2, 8, and 29 yards for a total of 172 yards on 29 attempts.

“At the time when I scored the touchdown that put us ahead (33-13),” said Lacosse, “I thought that was it. But they came back with the two touchdowns. We found a way to win the game.”

Defensive back Marco Taibi came up with a big defensive play when he intercepted Keegan Pierce's pass at the Mustangs' 11-yard line with :02 left in the game.

“We talked in the defensive huddle to deepen up,” said Taibi. “We expected a deep pass, and we had to play the ball to win the game. They made a run at us but we played Mustangs football and got the ‘W'.”

On Friday night before severe weather suspended play, Rolling Meadows (2-2) scored on its first possession when Lacosse finished a 6-play, 65-yard drive with a 2-yard run and a 6-0 lead.

The hometown Hawks (2-2) led 7-6 after Chady Bitre (19 carries, 78 yards) scored from the 1 on the following series.

Asher O'Hara gave the Mustangs back the lead for good at 12-7 on a 29 yard run with 3:38 left in the first quarter.

When the game continued Saturday afternoon, Lacosse finished a 9-play 64-yard drive with an 8-yard run for a 20-7 lead with 6:58 left in the first half.

Hoffman Estates closed to within 20-13 on Pierce's 17-yard pass to Daniel Banahan at the 7:15 mark of the third quarter.

The Mustangs responded with a statement drive, going 99 yards to score on O'Hara's 4 yard run with 8:38 left in the game.

“That was a great job by the team and our offensive line,” said Rolling Meadows coach Matt Mishler. “Lacosse got some big yards for us on that drive, as did O'Hara. This was the type of game that our offensive line (David Murphy, Andrew Neville, Thomas Larson, Grant Palmer, and Jack Maloney) love. They like to grind it out.”

“The offensive line had a great game for us,” said Lacosse. “They opened up some big holes for me. This line is big, physical, and skilled. They have a lot of talent. This was a very physical game. We had a good ground attack.”

O'Hara rushed for 72 yards in scoring his 2 touchdowns. The junior quarterback completed 10 of 14 passes for 105 yards.

Pierce finished 12 of 26 for 113 yards and 2 interceptions.

Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.comRolling Meadow's Kevin Lacosse celebrates with his teammate Jose Camacho in the endzone after his 29-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter despite pressure from the Hoffman Estates defense in varsity football on Saturday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.comHoffman Estates' Daniel Banahan powers ahead for a touchdown in the 3th quarter despite pressure from the Rolling Meadows' defense in varsity football on Saturday.
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