Flag football: Glenbrook South ousts defending state champion Fremd
After losing to No. 6-seeded Fremd by 32 points 10 days ago, No. 2 Glenbrook South had to be a little worried when it faced the Vikings in the Buffalo Grove IHSA girls flag football sectional semifinals Monday night.
But the Titans (16-2) never backed down against the defending state champions as they built an 18-6 lead early in the fourth quarter before capturing a 24-12 victory over the Vikings (17-5). Glenbrook South will face top-seeded Carmel Catholic (21-1) for the sectional title at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Trailing 12-6, Fremd marched down to the Titans' 27-yard line midway through the third quarter. But on first down, Taylor Binney came up with a huge interception of a pass by quarterback Lily Mayer (21-for-28, 180 yards).
The Titans took advantage of the turnover as Addison Gracia (8-for-12, 70 yards) hit Kate Ptak with a 17-yard TD pass to boost the lead to 18-6 with 11:54 to play.
The Vikings responded by going 86 yards on 10 plays on their ensuing drive as Mayer hit Jordan Farrell with a 4-yard TD pass to cut the lead to 18-12 with 7:01 remaining. Neither team was able to convert any of their extra point attempts in the contest.
Then came a huge third-and-12 play by the Titans as freshman Cooper Godbout (134 yards on 7 carries) went 73 yards on a hook and ladder play down to the Fremd 9. Four plays later, Godbout caught a 2-yard TD pass from Gracia for a 24-12 lead with 1:54 to go.
"We came back, we saw what they wanted to do on offense and we just put together a good defensive game plan that the kids executed beautifully," said Glenbrook South coach Tom Godbout. "On offense we made the plays when we needed to make them. We had a few huge fourth-down catches and fourth-down touchdowns. It was an amazing effort by our kids, and I'm so proud of them."
A 38-yard run by Godbout was followed by a 5-yard TD pass from Sienna Gilles (7-for-10, 70 yards passing) to Godbout for a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter. Then Godbout caught an 8-yard TD pass from Gilles (42 yards on 7 carries) for a 12-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Mayer (46 yards on 12 rushes) scored on a 5-yard keeper with 37 seconds left in the first half to cut the lead to 12-6.
"I think that the effort of our team was just awesome and I think we honestly did great today," said Cooper Godbout. "I'm just so proud of the two runs, it really helped to get us all the way down to about the 10-yard line and it just really helped the team get those touchdowns."
Fremd's Jill Simonian had an interception early in the second quarter while teammate Suzanna Grosman's 27-yard reception was a key during Fremd's first scoring drive.
"We were in position on defense, we just couldn't pull flags tonight and our offense started out a little slow," said Fremd coach Becca O'Dette. "We got moving just a little too late, but I'm very proud of the girls, they did a great job and they played hard."