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Maine South bounces Barrington

Maine South turned the tables on Barrington in the second round of the Class 8A playoffs in Park Ridge on Saturday.

The Hawks eliminated the Broncos 42-27 to advance to the quarterfinals next week, at the same time avenging a Week 3 loss at Barrington.

"They came out and played really, really well," Barrington coach Joe Sanchez said. "We left some plays on the field. I was proud of our kids and they way they fought. We had some chances and opportunities - we just couldn't seem to get to that point where it was tied and we could start over."

Maine South (8-3) jumped to a quick 14-0 lead as Fotis Kokosioulis (25 carries, 147 yard) broke off a 48-yard touchdown run and Jack Hoffman had a 36-yard interception return.

Barrington (9-2) was not at full strength as quarterback Ray Niro, who suffered a high ankle sprain a week ago, attempted to play. But after two series, it was evident that Niro wasn't himself and Sanchez went to Josh Babicz.

"We tried to go with Ray at the beginning," Sanchez said. "He wasn't able to go they way we normally go. Josh went in and did a fantastic job and gave us a chance."

The senior, who sparked Barrington last week against Leyden after Niro was injured, did it again. He quickly picked up the struggling offense and the Broncos tallied when Babicz hit Jake Parsons on a 34-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7.

Maine South opened up 21-7 lead on a 1-yard plunge by Nick Leongas with 9:46 left in the first half.

It took Babicz just 18 seconds to get the Broncos back on the game. Babicz faked to Logan Moews on a read-option and then took the ball over the left side to score on a 73-yard run to make it 21-13.

Maine South increased its lead again as the Hawks drove 65 yards on 11 plays. James Haynes recovered a Leongas fumble in the end zone to make it 28-13 with 5:11 left in the half.

This time it took Babicz 41 seconds to get the Broncos right back in it. Babicz raced 72 yards on a quarterback trap draw to cut the lead to 28-20.

"We didn't want to leave anything behind," said Babicz, who rushed for 219 yards and threw for another 185. "If Ray wasn't able to go, I was ready to step in. The point came when I had to, and I just tried to pick my team up."

Barrington lost a possible tying touchdown just before the end of the half.

Babicz threw to Alec Andrea on a post route from the Maine South 28. Andrea went up for the ball and appear to come down with it along with Maine South defender Matt Schneider. As the two hit the ground, Schneider rolled and pulled the ball away from Andrea and the officials ruled it as an interception.

"It was a bang-bang play," Sanchez said. "It was unfortunate that the call did not go our way. But it doesn't come down to the officiating. We have to make that play clean and not give them a chance to think that it is bang-bang."

Instead of having the ball and some momentum to begin the second half, Barrington was forced to play from well behind. And with Maine South keying on Babicz, the Bronco offense had difficulty coming out of the box in the third quarter.

Maine South pulled away again on Leongas' second touchdown run to make it 35-20 with 2:53 left in the third quarter.

Again Barrington fought back. Moews got the Broncos within a touchdown on a 2-yard burst as they closed to 35-27 with 11:41 to play.

Maine South then went 69 yards on 12 plays to pull away the final time. The Hawks ran the ball on 11 of 12 plays with Kokosioulis scoring on a 1-yard run to open up a 42-27 lead with 6:44 play.

Barrington made it interesting when Parsons caught a tipped pass on fourth down from the Barrington 5 an took it down to the Maine South 11. But the Broncos could manage only 5 yards after that to end their season.

Barrington gained 498 yards of total offense, with 313 of that coming on the ground.

Meanwhile, the high-flying Maine South offense went to the ground game to grind out the win. The Hawks piled up 240 yards on 48 running plays, taking a page from the Barrington scheme and keeping the Broncos' offense of the field via ball control.

"It is is a tough way to finish," said Barrington defensive end Jackson Perkins, who will play at The Naval Academy next year. "We were playing for our season and for each other. We fought hard, but just came up a little short."

Barrington quarterback Ray Niro makes an adjustment to a play call in the first quarter against host Maine South on Saturday. Photo by Mary Beth Nolan
Maine South quarterback Nick Leongas passes under pressure from Barrington linebacker Ryan Bornhofen in Class 8A second-round play Saturday in Park Ridge. Photo by Mary Beth Nolan
Barrington defensive back Grant Leichter tackles Maine South's Luke Hinkamp after a reception in their second-round playoff game Saturday in Park Ridge. Photo by Mary Beth Nolan
Barrington coach Joe Sanchez and his staff dispute a call which gave Maine South an interception in the end zone, stalling a Broncos offensive drive late in the first quarter. Photo by Mary Beth Nolan
Barrington quarterback Ray Niro, right, hugs wide receiver Griffin Gabbert after the Broncos fell to Maine South 42-27 in a second-round playoff matchup in Class 8A. Photo by Mary Beth Nolan
Barrington quarterback Josh Babicz and Jack Young leave the field after the Broncos came up short 42-27 on Saturday at Maine South. Photo by Mary Beth Nolan
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