Gators' win sets up showdown
ROCKFORD - Crystal Lake South played its best four quarters of football at the right time.
The Gators beat undefeated Boylan in every phase of the game here Saturday, blanking the Titans 28-0 in a second-round Class 7A playoff game at Titans Stadium, a complete team effort that amazed even their coach.
"I just can't believe how well the kids played." CL South coach Jim Stuglis said.
The Gators advance to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2005. They will host Valley Division rival Cary-Grove (11-0) next week. Cary-Grove defeated St. Charles East 10-7 on Saturday night.
The shutout was the fourth of the season for Crystal Lake South's new 3-3-5 defense, which ties a school record. It was the first time Boylan was shut out since October 2005, when Harlem beat the Titans 10-0.
Holding Boylan scoreless was no easy feat. The Gators held a Boylan team that entered the game averaging 41.1 points a game to 154 yards and 8 first downs.
"We haven't really played a full game yet this season, and this seemed like a good chance to start," said CL South junior linebacker JD Barchard. " We came out pumped. We really wanted to win. This was fun. This is the best feeling we've had all year. It was just great."
The offense wasn't to be outdone, led by sophomore quarterback Drew Ormseth. Despite the 38-degree temperature and winds gusting to 25 mph, Ormseth completed 8-of-14 passes for 200 yards and 1 touchdown and ran for another score.
"All I have to do is put it there and (the receivers) make plays," Ormseth said modestly. "I don't do that much."
Not so, according to Saturday's opponent.
"Their quarterback was just dynamite," Bolyan coach Dan Appino said. "If you had told me after the game that he was just a sophomore and I didn't already know, I'd think you were lying. He looked like a sophomore in college. He made great decisions, he threw great balls, the wind wasn't a factor for him and he evaded tacklers very well. He's going to be something to watch."
Ormseth got the Gators on the board in the first quarter. After senior Cory Galloway blocked a Boylan punt CL South (9-2) took over at the Titans' 29-yard line and ran the ball 6 times to the 8.
On third down, Ormseth rolled right and threw a bit high for his receiver, though he might have been able to run for the score. The same play was called on fourth-and-3. This time Ormseth followed fullback Derek Mortensen in for the touchdown on the last play of the first quarter.
"It was wide open," Ormseth said. "I just called go to Morty and we just went."
In the second quarter, a great catch in traffic of a deflected Ormseth pass by Brandon Erickson led to a 44-yard gain, and a 15-yard face mask penalty tacked on gave the Gators a first down at the Boylan 13. Mortensen scored 3 plays later on a 4-yard burst up the middle to put South ahead 14-0 with 1:54 remaining in the first half.
Following a scoreless third quarter, the Gators gained breathing room when Mortensen capped a 7-play drive with a 3-yard scoring run. CL South overcame a holding penalty during the drive when Ormseth connected with tight end Vince Benedetto for a 29-yard pass to the Boylan 5.
Boylan (10-1) was forced to punt six times and the Titans turned the ball over on downs on three occasions, the last coming at their own 43-yard line with 8:35 left in the game. Ormseth then salted away the victory with a perfectly thrown 28-yard touchdown pass to Steve Rogers, who had beaten the Boylan cornerback by a step.
"They played four quarters of football, which I'm very proud of," Stuglis said of his team. "We really haven't done that all year. To do it at this time on their field is huge."