Harper leaves COD out in the cold
You couldn't blame the Harper football team for wanting to drench all the coaches with ice water Saturday in Palatine.
The Hawks' defense was chilling, and the offense froze the College of DuPage defense en route to a 42-6 victory in the Region IV championship.
"This was a big one for us," said Hawks coach Dragan Teonic, whose team is bowl-bound. "Last year we lost the Region IV game to Joliet. What was big for us is that we didn't have any turnovers today. We forced them into a couple of mistakes and we ended up a few times with a short-field advantage."
Things did not start out well for the Hawks (11-1), ranked fifth in the NJCAA poll. The Chaparrals (6-5) marched 65 yards in 13 plays to take a 6-0 lead when Jon Daniels (7-for-20, 68 yards, 1 interception) connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass to Terriun Crump.
Kevin Konrath blocked the extra-point try, which Teonic said helped the defense get motivated.
The Hawks went ahead 7-6 with 4:47 left in the first quarter on Garrett Barnas' 30-yard touchdown pass to John Baldwin, who wrestled the ball away from Keith Lewis and ran uncontested into the end zone.
Baldwin (5 receptions for 86 yards) grabbed an 11-yard TD pass with 3:28 left in the quarter. The score was set up by Loran Hewlett's interception and 40-yard return to the COD 20.
"The offensive line (Evan Page, Matt Royer, Eric Schwartz, Jordan Romano, and Brody Dixon) set the stage," Teonic said. "They gave the backs time to run, the quarterbacks time to throw or run, and the receivers time to run their routes. We just had to find open coverage."
Senica Jackson gave the Hawks, who outgained the Chaparrals 448 yards to 267, a 21-6 lead with 8:27 left in the half on a 27 yard TD burst up the middle.
Hawks reserve QB Matt Brandt had a part in all 3 second-half touchdowns. Brandt (12 rushes, 72 yards) ran for TDS of 33 and 12 yards, and he connected on 6 of 13 passes for 76 yards - including a 22-yard TD pass to Eric Watts.
Barnas, who played the first half, rushed for 77 yards on 10 carries and completed 8 of 22 passes for 90 yards. He eclipsed the school career record of 5,000 passing yards.
Kyle Jenkins led the Hawks' defensive surge with several tackles for loss, and he batted down a pass.
"Even after they scored first we just had to stick to our defensive scheme," Jenkins said. "We had to stop their option."
"I was surprised that they abandoned their running game so soon," said Teonic, who captured Region IV coach of the year honors. "We knew they were dangerous. Our defense just really played well."
"To win we felt we had to control the lines of scrimmage, and that did not happen," said COD coach Fred Fimbers. "Both their quarterbacks found time to create offense opportunities. Their defense has improved every week also."