Field day for Libertyville in 22-21 win over Barrington
The announcer implored fans to stay off the field, but the Libertyville students couldn't help themselves. Most of the school seemed to charge the turf to help the Wildcats celebrate a wild 22-21 victory over visiting Barrington on Friday.
This contest featured a couple of momentum shifts that might have been capable of moving continents a few inches. After Libertyville thoroughly dominated the first quarter, Barrington scored 21 straight points before the home team rallied for 2 late touchdowns.
When the mob scene on the field subsided, Libertyville coach Randy Kuceyeski told his players it was one of his most exciting victories in 16 years as head coach.
"Barrington, every year it's like this," Kuceyeski said. "As far as us coming from 2 touchdowns down late in the game to win it, that shows a lot about our team."
Libertyville trailed 21-8 in the final seconds of the third quarter after Barrington quarterback Terrance Terry broke loose on a scramble for a 57-yard touchdown. Just when all seemed lost, the Wildcats got a huge boost from junior Damarqus Wilson, who rocketed 79 yards on the ensuing kickoff return, setting up a 25-yard touchdown pass from A.J. Schurr to Eric Andrews that made it 21-15.
"That kick return by Demarqus pumped everyone up and we got all the momentum back," running back Kevin Penny said.
The Wildcats came up with another big play when Dan Nield blocked a punt, but Schurr was tackled a yard short on a fourth-down scramble at the 14-yard line with 6:20 left. Libertyville's defense needed another clutch stop and got it when Dan Chutich sacked Terry on third down.
Libertyville started on Barrington's 31-yard line following a short punt. The Wildcats used the power running of Penny (14 carries, 66 yards) to cover the final 25 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:15 remaining.
The Broncos returned a squib kick just short of midfield and picked up a first down, but a couple of penalties spoiled their chance for a winning drive.
"Obviously, coming into this game, there were a lot of questions," Barrington coach Joe Sanchez said. "To be in this atmosphere tonight and have this type of experience - this is going to do wonders for this team. It really is. We only get better because we play these guys."
With Terry making his first high school start at quarterback and sophomore Chase Murdock (19 carries, 118 yards) at halfback, Barrington's offense was wobbly at the start, to say the least. The Broncos' first three possessions netted minus-4 yards, with two turnovers inside their own 25-yard line and a punt snap that sailed out of the end zone for a safety.
But Libertyville's lead was just 8-0 after losing a couple of fumbles in Barrington territory. The switch flipped for the Broncos' offense when sophomore Sam Handler made a leaping grab for their initial first down of the game. Four plays later, Murdock scampered 39 yards for a touchdown and a 2-point run tied the score at 8-8. Terry ran for a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter and Barrington had a 70-yard punt return called back by penalty.
Barrington's Anthony Gentile was a defensive star with 2 sacks, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. Libertyville's John Notaro forced a fumble to set up the first touchdown, then later left with a knee injury.