Waubonsie ends playoff drought
Hallelujah.
Eric Josupait's 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half led to Waubonsie Valley's first opening-round playoff victory since 2001, beating Brother Rice 33-7 on Friday in Class 8A action in Aurora.
"The kick was a little short so I was able to get running start," said Josupait, a senior receiver who also scored on a 3-yard run and a 22-yard catch. "Great blocks by the guys on the wedge, and I was able to hit it right up the seam, untouched all the way.
"Obviously coming out at the second half to start like that, it gave us momentum for the rest of the game."
Josupait's return snapped a 7-7 tie, as No. 5 seed Waubonsie Valley (8-2) hit No. 12 Brother Rice with 26 unanswered points.
Sixth-year Warriors coach Paul Murphy won his first playoff game after four one-and-done appearances. Waubonsie hadn't won a playoff game at Dick Kerner Stadium since 1994.
"It gets the monkey off the back," said Murphy, who next week will visit No. 4 Homewood-Flossmoor, a 41-14 winner over Curie.
"I was happy to get out of there 7-7 at the halftime because I thought we were playing tentative," Murphy said. "We knew we just needed one play to jump start us and if we got it we'd take off."
In the second half Brother Rice (5-5) didn't convert a first down until 8:15 remained in the game.
"Every time something goes wrong they just cave in, simple as that," said Crusaders coach Steve Nye. "We played a great first half, we did a nice job defensively and they returned the kickoff and we never responded from it."
Matt Girardot kicked a 29-yard field goal and Warriors quarterback Tommy Kolzow hit Josupait on a post pattern for a 24-7 lead after three quarters.
Devon Morgan sacked Brother Rice quarterback Billy McGivern for a safety and 26-7 lead at 10:10 of the fourth. A Morgan sack forced another Crusaders three-and-out, and Austin Guido broke a 96-yard touchdown run to cap the scoring. The sophomore ran 21 times for 202 yards.
Brother Rice started the game like gangbusters. Martez Walker returned the opening kick 34 yards, then on the Crusaders' first play he broke a reverse 57 yards to Waubonsie's 1-yard line. Two plays later McGivern crossed the plane.
Waubonsie Valley tied it at 6:02 of the second quarter, Josupait dashing between blocks by Austin Ameri and Mark Szott for his first touchdown.
He'd be back.
"We went into halftime and coach told us to come out hard, and we did," Guido said. "Our O-line did great and our confidence went up and good things happened from there."