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Streamwood denies Elgin 1st win

A week ago Tim Crom would have been an unlikely hero for the Streamwood football team. However, with windy conditions limiting the passing game and a running back corps depleted by injuries the Sabres turned to the third string senior to lead their running attack on Friday night. Crom went far beyond the call of duty, rushing for 154 yards on 34 carries and a touchdown to lead Streamwood to a 22-15 Upstate Eight River win over Elgin on homecoming night at Millennium Field.

Crom also had 1 reception for 39 yards. Sophomore quarterback Brendon Marton added 91 rushing yards on 18 carries and 2 touchdowns. The Sabres kept their playoff hopes alive by improving to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the UEC.

"We told Tim early in the week he was going to have to be our workhorse," Streamwood coach Don Guindon said. "He accepted the challenge and stepped right into the role and did a great job."

The game was tied 15-15 at halftime and the third quarter started ominously for the Sabres when they turned the ball over on the second play from scrimmage at their own 30-yard line on an interception. However, after the defense held Streamwood went back to what was working best and that was running the ball.

The Sabres marched 75 yards on 10 plays for the go ahead score to make it 22-15 with 6:55 left in the third quarter. All 10 plays on the drive were running plays. Crom accounted for 39 yards and Marton had 41 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown run to cap the drive.

"I think I made my offensive line coach very happy tonight," Guindon said. "Coming from a spread offense in college I'd much rather be running it, but with the conditions tonight we new we were going to have to establish the run. We got away from it a little bit, but really established it on that drive.'

Crom had a 35-yard run on his first carry of the game and later scored the Sabres' first touchdown with a 9-yard run early in the second quarter.

"I knew this was going to be a big game for me," Crom said. "The coaches were telling all week I was going to see a lot of action and I was ready. The line came together and opened some nice gaps for me."

The Sabres went up 15-0 after scoring a safety on a botched kickoff return by the Maroons followed by a 4 play touchdown drive capped by a 16 yard run by Marton.

The Maroons (0-6, 0-3) rallied with a pair of touchdown runs of 1 and 2 yards by quarterback Terrance Miller Allen and a 2-point conversion pass from Miller Allen to JoJo Span to tie the score at 15-15 at the half.

Elgin had its chances in the second half after a pair of interceptions by Span and Sahil Patel gave them the ball in Sabres territory. But the Maroons could not capitalize turning the ball over on downs on one possession and turning the ball over on a fumble at the Sabres' 30-yard line on the next opportunity.

Miller Allen passed for 200 yards and ran for another 113 yards on 27 carries.

"It goes beyond just stats," Elgin coach Anthony Mason said. "It's the mental aspect of the game where we are not executing. It was a gutsy performance, but I am not happy. We are tired of losing and not having the program where we have the potential to be."

Edgar Guiterrez had a fumble recovery for the Sabres on the Maroons final possession to seal the win. He had an interception earlier in the game.

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