Schaumburg holds off Hoffman Estates
Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates were offensive-minded last night in the Mid-Suburban West.
The host Saxons put on a offensive barrage and then held off a late charge by the Hawks to pull out a 56-42 victory.
“I was happy the way we played the first 20 minutes of the game,” said Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling. “We came out early and did the things that we had set our minds to do.
“With the win we are still in the hunt. We have to play better than we did in the second half.”
After the first 20 minutes the Saxons (4-3, 2-1) led 35-0. Brandon Kibby, who would rush for 176 yards on 9 attempts and score 3 touchdowns, started things off.
Kibby broke loose for a 51-yard score on a broken play for a 7-0 lead after Josh Marchok kicked the first of 8 extra points.
A 74-yard interception return by Dru Richardson set up quarterback Stacey Smith’s 5-yard run with 3:56 left in the quarter and a 14-0 lead.
Zack Beck’s interception at the 30 of the Hawks (0-7, 0-3) led to Sadaris Patterson’s 20-yard score and a 21-0 lead with 1:21 left in the quarter.
A fake punt by the Hawks gave the Saxons field position for Mike Mallet’s 37-yard touchdown pass from Smith. Center Matt Stopka threw a key block down the right sideline to free Mallet and build a 28-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter.
Smith then made the score 35-0 on a 7-yard run with 8:41 left in the half.
“Right now our offensive line is a good family,” said Stopka about fellow linemen Bill Tomaszewski, Justin Sanchez, Matt Zolper and Max Wiers. “We knew Hoffman would play us hard becuase if they won it would make their season. We had our minds right for this one.”
“Stopka stepped up tonight as did the line,” said Kibby, who also scored on runs of 47 and 3. “He made good snaps and the line blocked well.”
The Hawks then started a slow but steady comeback. Quarterback Jordan Hudak led the charge by rushing for 3 touchdowns and passing for two more to Anthony Patrick and Mike Jackson.
Hoffman closed to 49-35 on Jackson’s score but a on-side kick was swept up by Schaumburg’s Nick Casey, who returned the ball 47 yards with 4:00 left in the game for a 56-35 lead.
“We showed what we could do if we don’t turn the ball over,” said Hoffman coach Bill Helzer. “They burned us on some plays early but then our offensive took advantage of what they gave us.”
Hudak rushed 22 times for 163 yards and completed 29 of 41 passes with 2 interceptions for 243 yards. The Hawks finished with 520 yards of offense to the Saxons 318.
Alex Proskey finished with 111 yards in 19 carries and a 4-yard touchdown run.