O’Brien throws for 306 yards, leads Fremd into quarterfinals for first time since 2009

Like the Incredible Hulk, no one wants to see Fremd quarterback Johnny O’Brien when he is angry.

O’Brien fumbled on Fremd’s first possession. But when O’Brien got the ball back, he led the Vikings to five consecutive possessions that turned into scores as Fremd belted Lyons 45-21 Friday in Palatine.

The win gives Fremd (10-1) its first trip to the state quarterfinals since 2009 next week when they play the winner of Warren and Bolingbrook, which will be played at 7 p.m. Saturday.

If Warren wins, Fremd plays at home next week. Fremd is on the road if Bolingbrook wins.

Either way, Fremd will be leaning heavily on O’Brien. The senior, who is always so even keeled, switched into a different gear after that fumble.

“The first drive we knew was not our brand of football,” said O’Brien, who tossed 4 touchdown passes and threw for 306 yards on 21-of-34 passing.

“We knew it was a long game. Our defense then got a huge stop in the red zone. We just came back and executed our offense really well. Coach (Lou) Sponsel loves to sling the ball all around and we just love throwing the ball.“

Sponsel knows all too well what works.

“Let’s be real,” Sponsel said. Just put the ball in No. 8’s hands.“

After O’Brien’s fumble, Lyons drove to the Fremd 6. The Lions then had a touchdown pass erased on an offensive pass interference call. The Lions then ended the drive with a missed field goal.

It was O’Brien time after that.

He first marched Fremd 80 yards in seven plays, with O’Brein completing all five of his passes. Jason Hardy capped the drive with a two-yard run to make it 7-0.

O’ Brien then parlayed two Fremd interceptions and a Lyons punt into three touchdown passes in 4:23 to put Fremd up 28-0 with 4:25 remaining in the first half.

Michael Murray set up O’Brien’s first touchdown pass with an interception at the Fremd 40. O’Broen completed three quick passes, all to Marquan Brewster, with the final completion covering 31 yards to make it 14-0.

Troy Pepe then gave O’Brien a short field with his interception and short return to the Lyons 22. Three plays later, O’Brien threw a 13-yard swing pass to Jayden Faulkner to make it 21-0.

“I think we have a pretty good run defense,” said Pepe, who along with George Kalkounos, Hardy, Michael Perez, Owen Jakubczak and Matt Klimas held Lyons to zero yards rushing.

“Our coaches did an amazing job preparing us. We had all their plays down. Scout team had a great look for us too and that really helped.”

O’Brien would tally his third touchdown pass of the quarter when he connected with Ben Riddle on a 55-yard pass to make it 28-0.

Lyons scored with just over a minute left in the half on a touchdown pass from Jack Slighton to to make it 28-7.

But the Lions left too much time on the clock and O’Brien drove the Vikings downfield as Shea Sloan booted a 32-yard field goal to make it 31-7 at the half.

Lyons cut the lead to 31-14 early in the third quarter on a 12-yard run by EJ Kuhlman.

Fremd then put the game away for good. Faulkner (13 carries, 77 yards) scored on a 6-yard scoring run. O’Brien also connected with Riddle on a 5-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.

“The groups that came before these guys, it was a slow process getting this program back on its feet,” Sponsel said. “We have a great senior group and we are also playing a lot of young kids too. Our goal is to make a run at this thing. And it was a statement game.”