No scout about it as Grant falls
In preparation for its Class 6A quarterfinal contest at Lemont on Saturday, Grant had a scout team simulate the Lemont offense and defense. It's a typical preparation tool most coaches use to give their team the best look at the opponent before the contest.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the simulation couldn't prepare Grant for the real Lemont Indians.
The top-seeded Indians used a dominant defensive effort and a sound running game led by junior Danny Hayes to eliminate Grant 35-14 on Saturday night in Lemont.
Lemont (12-0), which finished second in Class 6A a year ago, will host unbeaten Antioch, a 28-27 overtime winner over Glenbard South, at 6 p.m. Saturday.
"We didn't see anything from (Lemont) that we didn't expect," Grant coach Kurt Rous said. "Our coaches and had them scouted real well and our scout team did a good job getting us ready.
"But Lemont is much better than our scout team."
The Indians wasted little time taking command of the ball game. Hayes carried the ball four times on the first drive including a 2-yard score and Lemont was up 7-0 just three minutes into the contest. The Indians' defense then took over. Lemont held Grant to 2 first half first downs and only 49 yards in offense in the first 24 minutes.
Hayes then showed his quickness and elusiveness on the Indians' first drive of the second quarter. His 16-yard run set up Hayes' second touchdown of the night from 3 yards out and the Indians were in command at 14-0.
"(Danny) does a nice job of reading the holes and waiting for his blockers," said Lemont coach Eric Michaelsen. "We really have tailored our offense to get him into the second level where he can take on the safeties and linebackers."
Lemont built up a 21-0 halftime cushion on Hayes' third score of the night from 20 yards out before the Bulldogs finally got a bounce to go their way.
Grant recovered a muffed punt on the Indians' 45 yard line, then took full advantage two plays later. Junior quarterback Justin Cokefair found senior standout Tommy Bychowski in the corner of the end zone and the Bulldogs trailed 21-7.
But that was as close as Grant (8-4) got. Lemont answered the Bulldogs' score with an 8-play, 59-yard drive to regain a 21-point bulge at 28-7 midway through the third quarter.
Hayes then closed out his 153-yard night with his fourth touchdown on a 4-yard dive that put an end to the Bulldogs' Cinderella-like playoff run.
"I feel like we have established something with this program," said Bychowski, who closed out his senior year with 4 catches for 75 yards and two scores. "I hope that in the future that getting to this point and beyond will be something that is expected instead of just being happy to get here."