DePalma redirects Prospect's OT triumph

Prospect seemed to be going nowhere fast with 25 yards of total offense as two of its first three possessions ended with interceptions.

Then senior workhorse Grant DePalma got going in sparking the Knights as they started rallying from a 14-point deficit in Friday night's Mid-Suburban East showdown at Elk Grove.

Prospect scored on six of its final seven possessions as DePalma finished with 147 yards on 26 carries and 2 touchdowns in a dramatic 42-41 overtime victory.

Oh, he also played the whole game at middle linebacker and had an interception.

“Grant is a great leader and a great kid, said Prospect coach Brent Pearlman. “He carried us as much with his spirit (Friday) as his legs.

“There is no quit in him and he's a believer. I don't think for one second out on this field he didn't think we were winning the ballgame.

DePalma also made a strong impression on the opposition with two-way standout Peter Bonahoom limited to special teams duty with an injured ankle.

“Especially with Peter out, DePalma impressed me with how tough he is, said Elk Grove coach Brian Doll. “To play every single down at middle linebacker, that was one of those games, as the game went on you noticed him more and more.

And Doll noticed something else about the 5-foot-11, 196-pound DePalma after the game was over.

“I thought he was three inches taller until I saw him, Doll said with a laugh. “I said, ‘You're DePalma, huh?'