In the end, Pirates stand tall

Defenders offered little resistance in the latest wild Mid-Suburban West football shootout that featured 76 points and 898 yards of total offense Saturday afternoon at Barrington.

But Palatine made some forceful statements in the final minutes to ensure it didn't lose the lead or game in a dramatic 41-35 victory on Jack Hansen's 3-yard touchdown run with 51 seconds to play at Barrington Community Stadium.

"It was probably the best feeling I've ever had," said Palatine senior Jimmy LaCapra after watching quarterback Matt Rossi come in at safety and make a leaping end-zone interception as time expired.

And it touched off a wild celebration for the Pirates (4-2, 1-1), who were coming off a 40-34 loss to Conant and host cross-town rival Fremd next Friday.

"There were some scary moments," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly. "But we told them to hang in there, hang in there and they're not invincible."

The 57th meeting of a series that dates to 1929 produced the most points as Barrington (5-1, 1-1) had 465 of the offensive yards. But 4 turnovers also led to 2 Palatine touchdowns.

"And we weren't able to get any off of them," said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez. "You've also got to credit them because they capitalized on our mistakes."

The return of sophomore Cody Bobbit from a groin injury suffered in the season opener also paid big dividends for Palatine. Bobbit caught 7 passes for 139 yards with touchdowns of 11 and 58 yards from Rossi (22-for-29, 324 yards).

But Bobbit also showed off his arm on a double-reverse with Jamie Silveira and hit a wide open Jose Munoz, who had 9 catches for 122 yards in his fifth straight 100-yard game, for a 40-yard touchdown and 35-32 lead with 10:07 left.

"He'll be a difference-maker for them for the rest of the season now," Sanchez said of Bobbit.

Barrington came back and had first down at the Palatine 11. But Chris Norman stopped Sam Ojuri (30 carries, 192 yards, 3 touchdowns) for a yard and LaCapra, Ryan Cortez, Norman and Steve Temple stopped a pair of Cody Seeger (19-for-26, 182 yards) passes for no gain. Ryan Murach, who hit a 47-yard field goal for a 32-29 lead, tied it with a 27-yarder at 3:04.

LaCapra then took Murach's first kickoff that didn't go for a touchback 41 yards to midfield to set up Hansen's second touchdown run.

"That was a big confidence booster," Rossi said of the defensive stand and LaCapra's return. "We knew it was our game to win."

Which Rossi preserved with his first interception since grade school on Seeger's desperation heave from midfield.