Lake Zurich's comeback sinks CL South
Lake Zurich's football team got a typical Max effort from its kicker.
And when the Bears' humbled defense had one final quarter to make stops or otherwise see its season end, it provided maximum performance.
That was enough, along with some big plays from its offense and uncharacteristic miscues from its opponent, to lift Lake Zurich to a come-from-behind, 30-28 win over visiting Crystal Lake South in a Class 7A second-round state playoff game Saturday.
So much for what figured to be a defensive battle between two teams that had given up a combined 180 points.
"They came out hard," Lake Zurich senior linebacker Connor Mihaljevic said of the Gators. "They ran the ball right down the field on us, but our offense responded, and our defense really stepped it up."
Max Methling kicked 3 field goals for Lake Zurich (8-3), which posted its 11th postseason win since 2006 and earned the 11th-seeded Bears a quarterfinal berth against Wheaton North, which topped Prospect 38-24 Saturday night.
Lake Zurich, which was once 2-3, won the hard way against No. 3 Crystal Lake South (9-2), overcoming a 21-13 deficit after three quarters.
"We made a couple of mistakes (in the fourth quarter) and they played outstanding football," Gators coach Jim Stuglis said. "They're definitely not a 6-3 (regular-season) team. They're a great football team. We played really hard."
Crystal Lake South put together 11- and 12-play drives in the first half and led 14-13 at the break. The Gators extended their lead to 21-13 late in the third quarter thanks to a bit of a break. Wide receiver John Wagner recovered a fumble in the end zone, capping a 7-play series that included quarterback Drew Ormseth's 27-yard completion to Alec Giles down to the Lake Zurich 13.
The hosts then took over.
Devian Ruiz's 1-yard plunge pulled Lake Zurich within 21-19 with 9:51 left in the fourth. The 12-play drive included a pair of third-down conversions, including a 16-yard strike from quarterback Peter Rantis (6 of 8, 114 yards) to Justin Russell to the Gators 6.
"We needed him to step up and he made plays when we needed to," Bears coach Bryan Stortz said of Rantis. "And the guys caught the ball."
The Bears went for 2 and the tie, and they converted when Rantis hit Jack Lynn on an out.
"We run that in practice all the time," Rantis said. "Jack and I know where each other are at all times. He saw the cornerback playing deep so I just put it right there."
On Crystal Lake South's ensuing possession, Mihaljevic's 13-yard sack helped pin the Gators at their own 9. Two plays later, Brandon Erickson, who earlier boomed a 74-yard punt, managed just a 21-yarder into the wind.
Lake Zurich settled for a tiebreaking, 17-yard field goal from the reliable Methling with 3:32 left.
"We've expected that out of him all season," Rantis said. "He played like that last year. He's a great kicker."
It was Rantis' 12-yard pass to Ruiz on third-and-10 from the Gators 27 that set up Methling's attempt.
"Those third downs, we just didn't have enough today," Crystal Lake South safety Alex Macaulay said. "I suppose it just came down to who wanted it more on third down, and we just couldn't get it."
Lake Zurich's defense responded again with Zach Till's fifth interception leading to a 9-yard TD run by star Jacob Brinlee, who carried 21 times for 75 yards.
"We went to two safeties and we were flying up at (Brinlee)," Macaulay said. "Our interior and rovers did a great job keeping him contained so our D-backs could fly up and make the hit."
Crystal Lake South got a late TD on Ormseth's 28-yard pass to Macaulay, but Andy Blechschmidt recovered the onside kick and Lake Zurich had its sixth straight win.
Gators running back Kameron Scott rushed 21 times for 100 yards, while Ormseth threw for 2 TDs and sneaked for a score.
"We were there all day, but we just weren't wrapping up," sophomore cornerback Till said. "In the second half, we started wrapping up and making plays."