Dundee-Crown 3-0 for first time since 1993
Dundee-Crown has been searching for a signature victory under third-year coach Vito Andriola.
The Chargers earned it Friday night.
Using two big fourth-quarter defensive stands, D-C beat FVC Valley Division foe Crystal Lake South, 14-13, in Carpentersville.
“This was a significant game for us, and we pulled it out,” D-C junior Caleb Parsons said. “It means a lot. We've been working very hard to get this ‘W.' We've been waiting. We finally got it.”
The Chargers are now 3-0 for the first time since 1993. They started last season 2-0 as well before losing 6 of their final 7 games to finish 3-6. D-C was 0-9 in Andriola's first season in 2011.
“It's not really about Xs and Os. It's about changing the culture and thinking that you can beat a really good football team,” Androla said. “And (CL South) is really good.”
The Gators (1-2, 0-1) took the opening possession 80 yards on 9 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Eric Landis capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. The senior had 50 yards on the drive.
D-C answered with a 14-play, 69-yard drive. Cordero Parsons scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:45 remaining in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7.
Malik Dunner gave the Chargers a 14-7 lead with a 24-yard touchdown run with 6:23 remaining in the second quarter on a fourth-and-6.
CL South, which had scored just two offensive touchdowns in its first two games, had just 11 yards of offense in the first half after its opening drive. On their first drive of the second half, the Gators went 69 yards, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from quarterback Austin Rogers. But on the point-after attempt (which was good), they were called for illegal procedure, moving the kick back 5 yards. The PAT was wide left as the Chargers held a 14-13 lead.
On their next possession, the Gators drove inside D-C's 10-yard line. The Chargers held tough, forcing a 26-yard field goal attempt. The kick was short and wide right with 7:01 remaining in the fourth quarter. After a three-and-out from D-C, CL South gained 50 yards on five plays to get to the Chargers' 23. The Gators lost 2 yards on the next two plays. On fourth-and-9, Rogers was intercepted by Fabian Gutierrez at the 15 with 2:07 remaining.
“We wanted our linemen to keep him in the pocket. He had to throw the ball downfield and we just had to be there to make a play,” Gutierrez said.
The Chargers went three-and-out again but didn't give the ball back to CL South until there was 4.3 seconds to go and 60 yards from the end zone. The Gators completed a pass but were more than 40 yards short of the end zone and the Chargers' celebration began.
“We put ourselves in a position to win. We didn't get it done,” Gators coach Chuck Ahsmann said. “Hats off to them. Vito has done a (heck) of a job. Those kids believe.”
Landis finished with 128 yards on 21 carries. Rogers rushed for 48 yards and was 3-of-7 passing for 39 yards.
Parsons had 68 yards rushing on 19 carries. The Chargers had only 60 yards of offense in the second half.