McGrath, Lisle unstoppable in win vs. Dwight
Dwight had a big problem Friday night.
It couldn't stop the Lisle offense in their Class 3A football playoff game at the Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex.
Mostly, the Trojans couldn't stop Lisle senior quarterback Jay McGrath.
Third-seeded Lisle won 38-14, its first playoff victory since 2003. The Lions (9-1) will play the winner of Saturday's game between fifth-seed North Boone and No. 12 Mid-County.
"I'm not ready to stop playing football yet, so I just want to keep going as long as I can," Lisle senior offensive and defensive lineman Charlie Waldusky said.
McGrath scored on touchdown runs of 18, 25, 1 and 48 yards, totaling 112 yards on 16 carries. He was 6-of-8 passing for 125 yards and the Lions' fifth TD. He made all five extra points he kicked, plus a 27-yard field goal on the final play of the first half for a 24-14 halftime lead.
"I love seeing him run, I love seeing him pass," Waldusky said. "He's a longtime friend of mine, so I'm just happy I can make it work for him."
McGrath had help carrying the football. Sophomore running back Mike Walker bruised his way to 71 yards on 12 carries. Senior wideout Demetrius Kellie caught 5 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown, in addition to 22 yards on the ground.
"No, they couldn't (stop the offense)," McGrath said. "Our line blocked so well tonight with all our pullers. Demetrious Kellie had an awesome game. The Lions are coming in hot."
McGrath was hot on defense also. The strong safety's interception in the end zone on a fourth-and-goal play from the Lisle 8-yard line early in the fourth quarter ended Dwight's last good chance to score.
Lisle punted just once, McGrath doing the honors, of course, late in the third quarter.
Dwight's offense did its best work early. It took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in 10 plays, with back Logan Graham scoring on a 5-yard run.
Lisle answered with a 72-yard scoring drive. When Dwight (6-4) punted, Lisle needed just two plays to go 48 yards for a 14-7 lead.
"We knew that they were a good team and a 6-3 team in the playoffs is one of the better teams we're going to play all year," McGrath said. "Our offense did amazing, as well as our defense. They got a kid (Graham) who rushed for 200 yards the last three games, and we held him very well."
Next it was Dwight's turn to answer, with Graham scoring from 2 yards out to tie the game at 14 in the second quarter. Graham ran 25 times for 134 yards, but 50 of those yards came on the final play of the game.
"I think we started off a little bit slow (on defense)," Waldusky said, "but I think we progressed as a team, and I think we grew. We were able to start to read what they were doing a little bit better and start to make plays."