Bobbit, defense help Palatine stop Hoffman
Offensive execution was missing for Palatine on Friday night at Hoffman Estates.
The Pirates committed 13 penalties and had 5 turnovers, yet, behind a couple of big plays and a stellar defensive performance, were still able to prevail 19-6 and keep their share of the Mid-Suburban West lead.
"You can't expect to win too often doing that," Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly said. "That's just inexcusable. That's what we've got to get better at."
Cody Bobbit was a standout for the Pirates (6-2, 3-1).
The sophomore had 5 catches for 52 yards and a touchdown, 7 rushes for 59 yards and an interception on defense.
"He's our star," Donnelly said. "He's a difference maker for us. When he's not on the field, we're not quite as good. When he is, we're at another level."
Donnelly said the Pirates got Bobbit back from injury when Palatine faced Barrington.
He said Bobbit is slowly coming along and was back near 100 percent on Friday night.
Palatine's defense was able to hold Hoffman (2-6, 0-4) to just two Niko Crambes field goals despite giving the Hawks' good field position on all 5 turnovers.
"I thought the defense played really well," Donnelly said. "That's a real good offense they stopped tonight and held to 6 points."
Hoffman quarterback Frank Wadas was forced to throw many of his passes to receivers running short routes, either because of pressure from Palatine's front line or because deeper throws had been unsuccessful.
Wadas was 20-of-43 passing totaling 150 yards. Only 4 of his 20 completions went for more than 10 yards. Receivers Mike Swedlund and Donovan Crawford each had 7 receptions for Hoffman.
Palatine running back Jack Hansen was struck by a helmet in his spine early in the third quarter. He came off the field in serious pain and did not return to action. He had an ice pack on his lower back while sitting on the bench on Palatine's sideline.
James Silveira (9 carries, 106 yards), Christopher Norman (7 carries, 19 yards) and Bobbit picked up the rushing duties with Hansen on the sideline.
Donnelly said he was unsure as to the extent of Hansen's injury, and that it would be something the coaching and training staffs would evaluate in the upcoming week.
Donnelly was not pleased with his offensive execution and said the turnovers and penalties "absolutely cannot happen."
"We may be in the playoffs, but we'll be out in the first round if that's how we're going to play," Donnelly said.
Notre Dame 12, St. Viator 3: Unfortunately for the Lions, the Dons' 'D' was just a little bit better.
Viator limited high-flying Notre Dame quarterback Eric Hennessey and the Dons' spread attack to only 8 completions in 28 attempts for 56 yards, but the Notre Dame defense intercepted Lions quarterback Julian Sipiora 3 times, the final time for a game-clinching touchdown.
St. Viator, led by a stifling effort from defensive backs Anthony Ferrazzuolo, Dan Faerber, David Alameda and Rory Mullen (interception), allowed the Dons only 163 yards of total offense.
But the Lions offense could muster only 140 yards of offense themselves.
"I guess I didn't have our offense ready to play," said St. Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick. "Our defense played very well, but you can't win with as many turnovers as we had."
Viator (3-5, 1-5) drove the Notre Dame 1 midway through the second quarter but could only come away with a 21-yard field goal by John Sandmeir.
Notre Dame (5-3, 3-3) finally broke through with 3:56 remaining in the third quarter when Hennessey found Joe Gutierrez in the corner of the end zone on fourth down from the Viator 5 to take a 6-3 lead.
The Lions had a chance late in the game when they drove into Notre Dame territory looking for the lead, but senior linebacker Sean O'Hara picked off Sipiora and raced 62 yards to the end zone to put the game out of reach.
"I read the quarterback," said O'Hara, "and I saw his eyes peek over. I stepped in front and got the ball right in my hands."
Sipiora was 8-for-20 through the air for 113 yards, while Notre Dame running back Julian Burgos rushed 18 times for 60 yards for Notre Dame.
Tyler Tangney had the other 2 interceptions for the Dons.
- Bill Esbrook
Highland Park 55, Maine West 14: Highland Park had a few tricks up its sleeve in downing Maine West 55-14 in a Central Suburban North football game on Friday night.
The first-place Giants (6-2, 4-0 CSL North) caught the host Warriors off guard in the first half by recovering two of three onside-kick attempts.
Maine West (2-6, 1-3) managed to keep the score tied 7-7 after the first quarter, but things got out of hand in a hurry after that.
"They showed that they were a first-place team and they came out and beat us," said senior quarterback Frank Hess, who threw for 94 yards and both Warriors touchdowns. "To be honest, I thought we had a chance after the first quarter."
Highland Park running back Courtney Frison beat Maine West on the ground, rushing for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns.
He also maneuvered his way 42 yards up the field for a touchdown after a short pass from quarterback Anthony Kopp.
The senior back was Maine West coach Chris Hare's proof that the onside kicks were not the turning point of the game.
"They're just better," Hare said. "It wouldn't have made a difference if they got those (kicks) or not. We came out and we did some nice things against a phenomenal team, and I felt very good about that."
Highland Park can clinch first place in the division with a win against Maine East next week.
- David Just