Maine South stops Leyden
Football scores can be deceiving, so don't let the 34-16 final score of Maine South's Class 8A playoff victory over Leyden fool you.
The host Eagles fed off of the energy of their home crowd, which was watching the school's first home playoff game since 1998.
On the second play of the game, Indiana recruit Matt Perez fumbled at the Leyden 48, and senior defensive end Jeff Cascella recovered.
After an Eagles three-and-out, Hawks senior QB Tyler Benz fumbled the snap, stopping the drive. That led to great field position for Leyden and a 19-yard touchdown run by senior Angel Maldonado (23 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD).
Maine South (11-0) tried to answer and started with great field position, but Cascella sacked Benz on third down for a loss of 6.
On fourth down, the Cascella show continued. The 6-foot-4 defensive end got into the backfield and blocked the Hawks' punt.
"The crowd really got me going," said Cascella, who couldn't be blocked in the first half. "I knew they were going to be bigger and stronger, so I had to be faster."
The Cascella block led to another score by the Eagles (7-4). This time quarterback David Rose found Adam Bielech through the air for a 13-yard touchdown, giving the hosts a 14-0 lead with 3:29 left in the first quarter.
After a failed onside kick attempt, Maine South had great field position again, but this time they didn't waste it. On first down, Benz hit senior Alex Romano on a slant, and Romano did the rest of the work, taking it 50 yards to the end zone.
When the Hawks got the ball back next, they were pinned deep in their own territory. Cascella struck again, drawing a holding penalty in the end zone giving his team 2 points for the safety.
"Cascella is outstanding. He's been outstanding all year," said Leyden coach Tom Cerasani. "I just hope someone will take a chance on him because he can be a heck of a college football player."
The game's momentum swung with just under two minutes left in the half. On second-and-8 from his own 48, Rose dropped back to hit Bielech deep down the middle of the field, but he was picked off by safety Ronnie Mack, who returned the interception 39 yards to the Leyden 36.
With just eight seconds left on second-and-goal, Benz found Luke Mottley standing at the goal line for the touchdown, bringing the Hawks within 2 points.
In the second half, Maldonado couldn't get the running game going, and Rose (6-for-23, 68 yards) and the passing attack faltered.
Maine South's connection of Benz (15-for-20, 205 yards, 4 TDs) and Romano (4 catches, 85 yards, 3 TDs) struck two more times for scores, and Perez (9 carries, 21 yards) scored from 3 yards out.
"That drive at the end of the second quarter was the difference-maker," Maine South coach David Inserra said. "We felt that we were in charge after that."
Benz picked up a lot of the scoring slack with the Leyden defense keying on Perez.
"We made some game-time adjustments," said Benz. "Their defense was really aggressive, and we took advantage of their linebackers covering seam routes."
Next week, Maine South will play Central Suburban South rival Glenbrook South in the quarterfinals. Maine South beat Glenbrook South 35-24 three weeks ago.