Meyer, Pfister lead charge for Elk Grove
MACHESNEY PARK - Kyle Pfister and Nick Meyer took charge on both sides of the football Friday night, leading the No. 13 seeded Elk Grove football team to a 28-21 upset victory over fourth-seeded Harlem in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs.
The Grenadiers' faithful stormed the field at Clyde F. Peterson Stadium after the team's first postseason game and victory since 2004.
Meyer had a hand in all four Elk Grove (7-3) scores, including 3 touchdown passes and an 80-yard kickoff return for a score on the opening drive. The junior also picked off two passes from Harlem (8-2) quarterback Keenan Kellett.
Pfister, a 200-pound senior linebacker and tight end, caught a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and made the stop of the game on defense soon afterward.
Meyer had found Pfister on the first play of the fourth quarter for an 8-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-point lead. On Harlem's ensuing drive, it strung together a pair of first downs to bring the ball to the Grens' 35.
Facing a fourth-and-4, Harlem running back Demetris Fambro took the ball to the left side but was met with a crushing hit from Pfister for no gain.
"Those are the special plays," first-year Elk Grove coach Brian Doll said. "I'm sure when we watch it on film tomorrow everyone's going to get super-excited about it.
"Kyle's a special player, and plays like that are statements to how hard he's worked this year. He makes big plays at big times, and that's what great players do."
The Grens ate up nearly four minutes with the following drive, giving the Huskies one last chance. But they failed to even move the ball forward on their four plays. Elk Grove took over and drove to Harlem's 2 before kneeling to victory.
Elk Grove managed to control the clock and ball despite being outrushed by nearly 150 yards.
Despite 3 lost fumbles, the Grens forced 4 turnovers, including two in the red zone.
"We knew they had a good running game and that it was going to be sloppy out there," Pfister said. "So we knew it would be a battle of turnovers. We just got some good breaks with the turnovers."
"We've faced similar offenses and defenses in similar games, so we just took what worked in those games into this game," Meyer added.
The Grens face today's winner of No. 5 South Elgin (7-2) and No. 12 St. Charles North (6-3) in the second round.