Barrington finishes the job, hands Hoffman 1st loss
A tall task faced Hoffman Estates as it returned to Frederick/Motor Works Auto Group Field at Barrington Community Stadium to complete a weather postponed contest with host Barrington Saturday afternoon.
Not only were they trailing the Broncos 31-7 when weather suspended play at the end of the third quarter but the Hawks had to face two other foes - the clock that gave them 12 minutes to try to put together a comeback for the second consecutive week, and the forecast which listed a 50/50 chance of more rain arriving in the area.
While it remained overcast Barrington would rain out a promising start for a Hoffman rally by scoring on its first two fourth quarter possessions en route to a 41-15 Mid-Suburban West win.
The victory ended a three-game losing streak for the hosts (4-3, 1-2) and gave the visitors (6-1, 2-1) their first loss of the season after a 6-0 start.
"I give credit to our coaches and our players for keeping a proper mindset during these last few weeks when things weren't going our way," Barrington coach Joe Sanchez said. "It's a matter of controlling the controllable. You find the blessings of the true strengths that your team has and beginning with (Friday) night into today we did a great job of responding to the challenge that a very good Hoffman team brought us."
The decisive response that snuffed out any hopes of a Hoffman comeback came after the area's top passing combo connected for the second time in the contest when Kyle Krogstad (15-for-37, 141 yards) hit Mailk Whitehead from 16 yards out on the second play from scrimmage which Jordan Lane followed with a successful 2-point conversion run off a double-handoff that cut the Broncos' lead to 31-15 11 seconds into the final frame.
Barrington would turn a failed Hoffman onside kick into a key momentum-turning 13 play drive that ate up nearly 5 minutes of the clock which Will Hutchinson ended with a 31 yard field goal that made it 34-15 with 6:57 to play.
After the Hawks' last threat ended at the Bronco 40 on their next offensive series, E.J. Darlington's 60-yard run on a quick handoff on the first snap of Barrington's second possession of the quarter found pay dirt for the game's final score with 4:41 remaining.
The dual-key that paved the winning effort for the home team was predicated on controlling the line of scrimmage throughout the game.
Barrington gained 366 yards of total offense, 296 on the ground, behind the effort of the offensive line of seniors Tyler Wegehaupt, Sam Butera, Trevor Stratejcruk and juniors Niko Kutrombis and Ray Schmitz. Senior Michael Curran had 120 yards rushing.
"Our coaching staff did a great job in helping us with adjustments that we needed to make for this game," Broncos' quarterback Tommy Fitzpatrick said.
The junior signalcaller, who rushed for 65 yards and threw for 70 yards, paid homage to his blockers up front.
"The guys on the O-line cleared a path for us and they were strong all game," he said.
On the defensive side of the ledger, Barrington would keep the Hawks under wraps as it held the Hawks to just 212 yards of total offense, 163 through the first three quarters of play.
Senior Zach Green echoed his head coach's philosophy of controlling one's destiny.
"We got back into being who we are thanks to our coaches who got us prepared for this week's game by getting back to the things we do best," Green said.
For both teams a shortened week awaits as the Broncos travel to face another 4-3 team in Schaumburg while Hoffman hosts Fremd as both teams stand at 2-1 in MSL West play one game behind 3-0 Conant.