Ketal, FitzPatrick lead Barrington into playoffs
Barrington earned an automatic playoff berth in a rushing fashion as it topped Schaumburg 50-15 in Mid-Suburban West action Friday night.
Seniors Tommy FitzPatrick (quarterback) and Quinn Ketel (running back) led the way on the ground en route to the postseason guaranteed ticket punching.
Ketel scurried for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns, while FitzPatrick registered three scores (2 passing TDs and 1 rushing TD) for the Broncos (6-3, 3-2).
"We're continually getting better," FitzPatrick said. "The offensive line played great, I can't ask for more than that. We have a special team this year. I can't wait to see what we can do."
FitzPatrick, on an early play in the first quarter, took a long look at the line on an option run, keeping the ball to himself and notching his first score.
They were far from finished with an early 7-0 lead. Following a Schaumburg 3-and-out, Ketel erupted through the line later in the first quarter and sprinted for a 63-yard touchdown to widen the lead 14-0.
Schaumburg (3-6, 1-4) had difficulty moving the ball through the air and on the ground throughout the game. However, on a short and auspicious throw that looked initially intercepted on what seemed like fourth and a mile, Schaumburg running back Isaiah Garcia nabbed a tip-drill ball to keep a late first- quarter drive alive.
The Saxons capitalized when senior tailback Brendan Rodatz galloped in for a touchdown from 14 yards out.
Schaumburg wouldn't score again until late in the fourth quarter on senior Ayobami Arokoyo's 36-yard run. The Saxons also had issues maintaining possessions, fumbling seven times and turning the ball over on four occasions.
After both teams traded a few consecutive turnovers, Barrington regained its composure, tallying a touchdown (FitzPatrick 18-yard pass to senior running back Bryan Smith) and field goal (33-yarder by kicker Adam Saul) to take a 24/7 lead into the break. The Broncos never looked back.
"Establishing the balance of the run and pass game is a point of emphasis for us," said Barrington coach Joey Sanchez. "(Schaumburg) had some success rushing, doing some different things on the tight-end side, so we had to adjust (at half). Our defense has been good all year. (Friday) was a great sign of that."
Other Barrington scorers included a second touchdown from Bryan Smith, junior receiver Ryan Smith and quarterback Peter Anderson.
Barrington moves onto the unknown as it buys itself at least one extra week of playoff football.
"The play in the MSL west is always difficult," FitzPatrick said. "You always have to come with your 'A' game. Anything can happen. We saw some looks on film. Our coaches did a great job preparing. The look we got from our scout team during the week is what we saw during the game."
"It means the world to make the playoffs," FitzPatrick continued. "I can't wait to get it going with the guys I've been playing with since we were 10 years old. Our goal is to be 1-0 in a week."