Buffalo Grove works 3 OTs to edge Hersey

For the second straight week, Buffalo Grove's chance at a victory came down a last-second play near its own goal line.

And for the second consecutive game, the Bison defense made a big-time stop to secure a win.

Last week, it was linebacker Johnny Asquini who came up with a quarterback sack at Elk Grove in the waning moments to deny the Grens on what would have been a game winning 2-point conversion.

Thursday, it was senior defensive lineman Alex Horvat's turn.

With the Bison leading by a touchdown in the third overtime, Horvat pounced on a Hersey fumble at the 10 to deny the Huskies and secure a 26-19 Mid-Suburban East triumph.

“We have turnover drills every day in practice,” said Horvat. “Ball, scoop and score.

“This one, I just saw on the ground and dove on it,” added the senior. “It was exhilarating.”

Buffalo Grove took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter after a Mike Kleczynski 78-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 24-yard field goal from Dan Levato.

Then BG (4-2, 2-0) struggled for the remainder of regulation thanks to a staunch Hersey D, led by Tucker Fenwick and Vlad Pavlenko and coached by Joe Pardun.

“Hersey's defense is everything it's cracked up to be,” said BG coach Mike DiMatteo. “They're bend but not break, and I thought coach Pardun made some great adjustments at halftime.”

After a field goal from Hersey's Will Trossen and then a 2-yard run by teammate Joe Caputo tied the game at 10, Trossen had a chance to win it with a last-second field goal.

But his strong 43-yard attempt into a stiff breeze fell just inches short at the final buzzer, forcing overtime.

Levato and Trossen traded field goals in the first OT. Each team scored in the second OT (Hersey had a TD catch by Cole Monckton, BG a John Maddox run).

But both teams missed the extra point, forcing a third overtime. After Maddox scored again, Horvat came up with his huge fumble recovery on Hersey's first snap.

“Unbelievable,” said senior Tommy McSorley, one of the leaders of a ferocious BG effort on defense. “We never gave up. We had some adversity, but we fought through that adversity.”

Maddox led the Bison charge on offense from his quarterback position, rushing for 163 yards.

Caputo ran for 72 yards for the visitors while teammate Jordan Edwards matched him with 72 yards rushing.

Maddox also contributed in the kicking game, averaging 45 yards per kick on 4 punts to keep Hersey (3-3, 1-1) pinned deep in its own end for much of the contest.

BG came away with the win despite being flagged 12 times for 115 yards.

“We were able to come up with the big plays when we needed to,” said McSorley. “Now we've got to carry this over to the rest of the season — and the playoffs.”