Barrington beats Fremd on last-second Beals field goal, pulls even on the season

Lamar Osterhues and Barrington were off and running Friday night at Fremd.

But the Broncos, who built a 24-0 halftime lead, needed a 21-yard field goal by Evan Beals as time expired to upend the Vikings 27-25.

The win made it four straight for the Broncos (4-4, 4-0) and clinched their second consecutive Mid-Suburban League West title.

“We got off to a great start,” said Osterhues, who ran for three touchdowns. “My offensive line was opening huge holes for me. I love those guys.”

Running behind Andrew Haley, Francisco Garcia, Finn Edstrom, Jack Kavanagh and Malcolm George, Osterhues was a force. Osterhues gouged a Fremd defense that had only allowed a total of 37 rushing yards in its last two games.

Osterhues blew that away on Friday. The junior piled up 248 yards on 27 carries, with 162 yards coming in the first half.

“I am so proud of our kids and our resilience,” Barrington coach Joe Sanchez said. “It was truly a tale of two halves. We came out guns a-blazing. But we knew that Fremd could comeback, and they did.”

Barrington, which began the season 0-4, has found its footing in the last month.

The Broncos have cycled through five quarterbacks due to injuries. Osterhues also missed a game due to an injury.

Osterhues and Barrington set the tone on the game’s first series. The Broncos drove 65 yards, with all of the yards coming on the ground. Osterhues, who had 63 of those yards on five carries, scored on a one-yard run.

Osterhues made it look easy on the Broncos’ next possession. He shot right up the middle like a jet and was basically untouched on a 64-yard scoring burst.

He later scored on a 14-yard touchdown one play after a Fremd fumble.

After being completely stymied offensively in the first half, Fremd came roaring back behind quarterback Will Clark, who threw two touchdown passes and ran for two others.

He drove the Vikings 80 yards on 13 plays to start the second half. He tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Carter McDonald to cut the deficit to 24-6.

On the Vikings’ next possession, Clark ran around the left end and then tiptoed down the sideline for a 73-yard touchdown to make it 24-12 with 10:52 to play.

Clark and the Vikings weren’t done. After a 47-yard pass from Clark to McDonald to the Broncos two-yard line, Clark scored to make it 24-18 with 7:14 left after the point-after kick was blocked.

Clark drove the Vikings down to the Barrington goal line again. This time he found Ben Riddle on an 11-yard pass. Shea Sloan knocked through the conversion kick and it was 25-24 with 1:24 left.

But Barrington has battled back all year.

The Broncos drove from their own 22 to the Fremd six behind the running of Osterhues. Barrington then pulled off the surprise of the game with an Osterhues option pass to Anthony Ermilio to the Fremd six-yard line.

“I know I can run it,” Osterhues said. “But I have to say that I was impressed by the way I threw the ball.”