Little helps Schaumburg to big win

Sometimes inches can make a difference in a football game.

Friday night at Hoffman Estates' Homecoming, a failed fourth-down conversion with 5:50 left in the game was the turning point.

Trailing 23-17 to Schaumburg, the Hawks' Shamar McFarlane came up inches short at the Saxons' 18.

On Schaumburg's next play, sophomore sensation Shepard Little shook loose for a 82-yard touchdown run with 5:33 left in the game to give the Saxons a 31-17 lead.

They would go on to win the Mid-Suburban West showdown 44-17.

"That stop was big for us," said Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling. "It was a huge play. Shepard just keeps getting better and better for us. Give credit to Hoffman they played hard and their quarterback Frank Wadas played a great game."

"The defense gave the offense the opportunity to score," said Little. "I just had some great blocks on that long run."

Schaumburg (4-2, 1-1) put the game away a few minutes later when quarterback Anthony Iannotti (21-for-26, 252 yards, 3 touchdowns) connected with Mike Valenti on a 97-yard touchdown reception.

Little (23 attempts, 270 yards, 3 touchdowns) later scored on a 19-yard run to finish the scoring.

The Saxons led 10-7 at halftime thanks to an 11-yard TD pass to Little and 39-yard field goal by Adam Syvertsen.

The Saxons set the tone for the second half when Dan Malik stripped the ball and Alex Coglianese picked up the fumble at the Hawks (2-4, 0-2) 34-yard line and ran in for the score and 17-7 lead.

"We were disappointed with our play in the first half," Coglianese said. "We came out with synergy in the second half."

The Hawks tied the score at 17 with 4 seconds left in the third quarter. A 21-yard field goal by Niko Crambes and an 82-yard touchdown pass from Wadas (14-22, 265 yards) to Joe Gricius tied it.

The Saxons took the lead for good on Iannotti's 13-yard pass to Josh Spandiary with 9:38 left in the game.