Sycamore sinks Lakes
Sycamore's Tommy Nice and the rest of the Spartans didn't live up to the running back's last name Saturday night against Lakes at Engh Community Field in Sycamore.
Nice, running back Eric Ray and receiver Jordan Kalk all caught touchdown passes from quarterback Ryan Bartels in the first half as Bartels threw for 190 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead No. 3 Sycamore to a 36-3 win over No. 14 Lakes in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
Lakes ends its season at 6-4 while Sycamore (9-1) will get its rematch of last year's quarterfinal against No. 6 Montini next week as it advances to the second round.
The Eagles had a tough time stopping Sycamore's passing game from the onset. Bartels hit Kalk (3 catches, 60 yards) on the Spartans' first play from scrimmage for 51 yards right over the middle for the game's first score, and then used the play-action to confuse the Eagles.
“They definitely mixed in some very nice play-action passes on us and got us early on and definitely hurt us,” said Eagles coach Luke Mertens. “Some of those plays just killed us.”
The Spartans scored on 5 of their 6 first half drives, as Nice (88 yards rushing, 30 yards receiving) and Ray caught TD passes on back-to-back drives midway through the second quarter. Ray's 44-yard touchdown gave Sycamore a 23-0 lead with 5:35 left in the second quarter. He'd finished with 100 yards receiving on 3 catches.
Lakes couldn't get anything going on offense during the first half as it was outgained 317-91. And while Sycamore's defense made Lakes punt four times during the half, the Spartans added one more score with 1:08 left on Bartels' 48-yard pass for Ray's second touchdown of the night.
“I think our play-action passing was pretty effective, especially early,” Sycamore coach Joe Ryan said. “(Lakes) had so many guys up there attacking the line of scrimmage so I thought, well, Ryan Bartels is our quarterback. Four touchdowns in the first half, obviously that set the tone.
“We just took advantage of what they were giving us and not try to beat our heads against the wall.”
Although Lakes was outgained 446-102 and held to negative 4 yards rushing, the Eagles had their opportunities to get back in it as they claimed three straight turnovers in a stretch during the third quarter. John Pfeiffer grabbed a fumble, Turner Bradshaw recovered a muffed punt and Donte Arnold snatched up a fumble. But none of those led to scores as Sycamore's defense allowed no less than 6 yards on each drive.
“I had a tough time coming in,” Eagles quarterback Jeff Eder said. “I'm used to starting so it was tough to come in the second half and make those throws, I was a little off but, no excuses. We definitely could have capitalized on a lot more and it hurts. We lost by four or five scores, we had four possessions given back to us so it's going to hurt.”
Chris Hoffman was successful on 8 of 15 passes for 75 yards in the first half, but much like Eder, didn't have the success and the rushing game was absent. Mike Hough was Lakes' only bright spot with 8 catches for 52 yards.
“Our defense did a great job of getting the ball back,” Mertens said. “That's all you can ask for from your defense, and offensively unfortunately, we didn't do anything with the turnovers.”
As for Lakes, it'll try to bounce back next season with great optimism. It's had its fair share of success over the few years of existence, and Mertens believes the program can get better.
“We've been a varsity program for five years, and 3 of the 5 years we've made the state playoffs and that's a lot to be proud of. It's a brand new program. We just want to keep building off of that.”