Driscoll defense takes a stand
As far as goal-line stands go, it doesn't get much better than this.
With its season and amazing run of consecutive postseason wins on the line, Driscoll came up with its biggest defensive play of the year at an opportune time in Saturday's Class 4A football showdown against Mendota.
Ahead by only a touchdown, the Highlanders stuffed Trojans quarterback Jordan Fritz's surge to get into the end zone on fourth down from the 1-yard line as the final seconds ticked off the clock for a 14-7 Driscoll victory, much to the delight of the home crowd in Addison.
With the triumph the fourth-seeded Highlanders will face Aurora Christian or Coal City next weekend in the Class 4A quarterfinals.
"What a game - I am still in shock," said Driscoll coach Brandon New moments after the final horn. "That is the biggest defensive play we have had this season. Driscoll football has always been about strong defense."
No one on the Highlanders defense knew who made the key hit that kept Fritz from breaking the plane of the goal. It was a total team effort as players such as defensive linemen Sean Banahan, Anthony Mastropieri, Andrew O'Reilly and Jerrod Callanta were in for the stop. This kind of unselfish team play is why Driscoll is a seven-time defending state champion and has now won 37 consecutive playoff games.
Highlanders senior linebacker Grant White, who played an outstanding game with numerous tackles for losses and other stuffs, was just buzzing about the final play.
"We were going on pure adrenaline," White said. "That's how you would like a game to end. We were keeping each other up as teammates. It was a great game."
Driscoll (9-2) jumped out to a quick lead, going 52 yards on three plays for a touchdown to open the game. Slot back Clay Cooper ran it in from 21 yards out, and Brett Warren made the extra point for a 7-0 lead just 1:16 into the contest.
The Highlanders made it 14-0 with 3:11 remaining before halftime on a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Austin Baker from quarterback Steve Schwabe. The big play of that scoring drive was a 30-yard pass play to Cooper.
"This game was all about who came out with that punch," Cooper said. "We tried to execute the best we could. We had to play our game and ended up winning. It was an awesome defensive stand."
The Trojans (8-3) got a score back when junior Kurtis Knapp, who played both halfback and quarterback, punched it in from 3 yards out with 8:25 left in the third quarter. Behind the running of Knapp, who finished with 126 yards on 23 carries, Mendota controlled most of the offensive play in the second half. On the final drive to try to send the game to overtime, Knapp led his team down the field with his running and a little passing.
Mendota got down to the 5-yard line and then Knapp hit Vince Bruno on a quick pass play down to the 1-yard line. But with no timeouts left, the quarterback keeper was the only option. The Driscoll defense, however, rose to the challenge.
"We would've liked to have another timeout," said Mendota coach John McKenzie. "We wanted to get into the fourth quarter and have an opportunity to win. Our kids made a heck of an effort. It's a game of inches. They made some plays at the end to keep us out of the end zone. It was two teams battling it out."