Turnovers prove costly for Libertyville
ROCKFORD - When it gets to this time of year in the football season, the smallest mistakes can come back to hurt even the best football teams.
On Saturday, in an opening round Class 7A playoff game at Rockford Boylan, Libertyville played toe-to-toe with the unbeaten Titans in virtually every statistical category but two - the turnover department and, eventually, the scoreboard.
Boylan took advantage of 3 Wildcats turnovers, scoring off 2 of them, en route to ending the Wildcats' season 24-14.
It's on to the second round for the Titans, who will host Crystal Lake South - a 24-21 winner over St. Charles North - Saturday afternoon.
Libertyville closed out its season 5-5.
"We had a pass get tipped and another get tipped as well and (Boylan) turned it into points," said Wildcats coach Randy Kuceyeski. "You just can't do that - it killed us."
One other facet that hurt the Wildcats was Boylan junior quarterback Michael Morman.
Morman, who was starting his second game after a season-ending injury to Zach Lane, played with the poise of a seasoned veteran.
Morman completed 10 of 14 passes, 3 for touchdowns. His last, which followed the Wildcats' second turnover, came at the end of the third quarter on a 39-yard toss to senior Will Sahlstrom. The play ultimately gave Boylan (10-0) the lead for good at 21-14.
"(Morman) is just a quality kid and a great athlete," said Boylan coach Dan Appino. "We had planned to play him at receiver and safety and punter and even drive the bus for us this year. Then he was thrust into this position. He has really responded to everything we have asked from him."
The Titans needed Morman after the Wildcats exploded out of the locker room after halftime and tied the game. It took Libertyville just two plays, both 35-yard runs, to even the game. The second of the 2 runs came from Kevin Verlee. His score knotted the game at 14-14 and clearly shifted the momentum to Libertyville.
"In the second half, I thought our defense came out and played tremendous," Kuceyeski said. "We had all the momentum, then on third and 15, (Boylan) hit that long pass and -"
The Wildcats' defense was stout most the afternoon, led by junior James Zotto (11 tackles) and senior Brian Taylor (2 sacks).
"Our goal on defense, as it is with every game, is to come out and hold the other team to fewer points than what we score and I think we gave a great effort," said senior linebacker Andrew Jones. "I am happy with this season. A lot of guys fought hard and gave it everything they had, and I am happy about that."