Palatine’s Mohammed shows how classroom discipline can pay off on football field in win over Hoffman Estates

Palatine junior Dami Mohammed's Spanish teacher had something nice to say about him Friday.

Very nice.

She approached Pirates football coach Chad Bobbit in a school hallway and praised the 5-foot-8, 155-pound defensive back for his discipline and classroom leadership.

Hours later, Mohammed earned another glowing review.

Mohammed intercepted a pass and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown, then recovered a fumble 15 seconds of game time later in the third quarter to ignite Palatine's 16-7 victory over visiting Hoffman Estates in a Mid-Suburban League West game at Chic Anderson Stadium.

“His Spanish teacher came up to me in a hallway today at school and told me what a great role model Dami is in the classroom,” Bobbit said. “She talked about his discipline, how he always does the right things.

“He showed discipline on that interception. Discipline in the classroom, discipline on the football field.”

And quite a lesson in opportunism.

The teams were locked in a defensive struggle on a mild night, with Palatine clinging to a 3-0 lead when Mohammed jumped a route, snatched a pass and raced 79 yards to the end zone with 5:23 remaining in the third quarter.

The home crowd erupted.

Mohammed wasn't finished.

On Hoffman Estates' next possession, he recovered a fumble at the 5:08 mark.

“I stepped up,” said Mohammed, whose interception was his second this season. “After that fumble recovery, I was hyped up.”

Palatine improved to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the MSL West. Hoffman Estates fell to 4-4, 2-2.

The Hawks committed a third consecutive turnover when Pirates junior linebacker Jordan Nevaraz helped stop a fourth-and-three pass play for a 4-yard loss.

Three possessions.

Three turnovers.

A defensive gem had become an exercise in frustration for Hoffman Estates coach Tim Heyse.

“We battled; that's what we do,” Heyse said. “Our defense played lights out again. But you can't shoot yourself in the foot as many times as we did. Penalties hurt, and so did those three turnovers.”

Hawks junior Riley Lennert rushed for 101 yards on 12 carries, while senior Braylin Scales added 94 yards on 19 attempts.

Palatine's Josiah Carrillo rushed for 62 yards on 17 carries.

The Pirates led 3-0 at halftime on Blake Haas' 22-yard field goal with one second remaining in the first quarter.

Hoffman Estates finally scored on junior quarterback Shion Dailey's 1-yard run with 7:02 left in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on a Palatine punting mishap.

Pirates senior quarterback Brandon Martino sealed the victory with an 11-yard touchdown pass to junior Brennan Wright with 57 seconds remaining.

“Our senior group is magical,” Bobbit said.

Mohammed, meanwhile, had provided the game's most memorable performance.

He also offered a glimpse of his classroom leadership.

“I sometimes speak up and tell the students around me, 'It's time to be quiet, time to listen our teacher.'”

Friday night, Mohammed let his play do the talking.

Loud and clear.