Grand Rapids shuts out Harper

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Using a smothering defense that forced 5 turnovers and allowed 169 yards, plus an offense that wore Harper down in the second-half, Grand Rapids eliminated the Hawks 35-0 in the Region IV playoffs at Houseman Field on Saturday.

The top-seeded Raiders (9-0), who were ranked seventh in the latest NJCAA poll, will host Joliet (6-4) on Saturday. Joliet defeated DuPage 20-7 in the other regional playoff game.

Trouble began for Harper (2-7) on the first play from scrimmage when Hawks quarterback Stuart Augustine (12-for-24, 93 yards) threw the first of 4 interceptions, to Raiders defensive back Derek Vandenbosch that set up the hosts at the Harper 26.

The Raiders scored when quarterback Casey Therriault (12-for-20, 104 yards, plus 15 carries for 54 yards) hooked up with Mark Lomasney on a third-and-goal from the Hawks' 3-yard line at the 12:00 mark of the opening quarter to take a 7-0 lead.

The Raiders scored again in the second quarter on Therriault's 6-yard keeper at the 12:50 mark. The touchdown was set up by a 29-yard pass to Demonte Collins and a 12 yard facemask penalty on third-and-11 that gave the Raiders the football at the Harper 12.

The Hawks, who were playing in the postseason for the 27th time in the last 29 years, had their best chance when sophomore linebacker Blair Lane intercepted a Therriault pass and returned the pick 47 yards to the Raiders' 19-yard line.

The drive ended four plays later when Raiders linebacker Lance Simmons intercepted an Augustine pass at the 10.

The Raiders dominated the second half by churning out 219 of their 321 yards of total offense that wore Harper down. A pair of 1-yard touchdown runs by Philip Mayberry and Ezekiel Fowle, sandwiched around a 22-yard Therriault-to-Fowle touchdown pass that completed the scoring.