Playoff football roundup: Upset victory eludes Benet in final minutes; Stevenson falls

Benet went from a huge opening-round upset to a long ride home from Moline in just a few minutes on Friday night in the Class 7A playoffs, losing 42-38.

The No. 47 Redwings surrendered a 25-yard touchdown pass from Kasen Ponder to Evan Ellis with just 11 seconds to play as No. 18 Moline (7-3) advanced to play at Glenbard West next Saturday.

Benet (2-8) led 38-28 with five minutes to play and had Moline pinned at its own one-yard line. Ponder then connected on a 99-yard touchdown pass to Evans as the Maroons closed to 38-35.

Moline then recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Benet held. However, the Redwings could not run out the clock, and Moline got the ball back and drove it in to score in the final two minutes.

Benet’s Alex Mitchell ran for a touchdown and threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Giovanni Sanderlin, while Zach Ihde had a pair of touchdown runs for the Redwings.

In other games:

Class 8A

Lockport 35, Stevenson 21: Stevenson had three second-quarter turnovers as the No. 37 Patriots (4-6) fell behind 21-7 at the half. Stevenson closed to 28-21 in the fourth quarter, but the Patriots couldn’t recover an onside kick and No. 28 Lockport (6-4) picked up a late touchdown. Mlakhai Agee had an eight-yard touchdown run and Brandon Hersh blasted off a 60-yarder to start the second half to cut the deficit to 21-14. Luke Clark had a 10-yard touchdown catch from Eli Sigal.

Hinsdale Central 41, Lake Park 19: Beau Gatewood was 23-of-31 passing for 311 yards and five touchdowns for No. 17 Hinsdale Central (7-3). James Skokna caught 12 passes, three of which went for touchdowns as he piled up 188 receiving yards. Lucas Castro and George Zilliox each also caught touchdown passes while Orestas Bockus had two field goals The Red Devils will meet No. 16 seed Von Steuben in the next round. No. 48 Lake Park (2-8) tried to battle back thanks to Massimo DiFranco’s pick-six. He also had six tackles and a sack in the game. David Grossman had nine tackles and a sack while George Gournaris also had a sack. Tay Smith was 11-for-15 passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns. TJ Ogunribido had seven catches for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

DePaul 37, Hampshire 34, OT: DePaul’s 30-yard field goal in overtime eliminated the Whip-Purs. No. 28 Hampshire (5-5) had trailed 34-28 with 5:12 to play. The Whip-Purrs then tied the game with 22 seconds remaining in regulation on a one-yard run by Tymere Marshall. However, No. 37 DePaul (4-6) blocked the conversion kick. Hampshire failed to score on its attempt in overtime.

Fremd 42, Taft 12: Fremd rolled up 42 first-half points and never looked back as it beat the visitors from Chicago. Will Clark led the No. 20 Vikings (7-3) by rushing 46 yards for a touchdown and going 12-of-15 with two touchdown passes to Carter McDonald and Ben Riddle, who became third all-time on touchdown receptions for Fremd. Mateo Ruiz rushed for two touchdowns while Niko Regopoulos had a pick six. Tom O’Brien also had an interception for the Vikings. Fremd will pay at No. 13 Naperville North next week.

Lyons 36, Metea Valley 14: Metea Valley, making its second trip to the state tournament, fell behind 22-0 at the half and could just not claw its way back. Iggy Amorrortu and Samy El-Sayad each had touchdown runs for the No. 44 Mustangs (3-7).

York 47, Bloom 14: York raced out to a 39-0 halftime lead and the No. 19 Dukes (7-3) cruised from there. Zack Assaad, Noah Jahn and Jackson Moskal each threw touchdown passes. Rowan McPartlin, Chris Georgas and Leo Martire each had a touchdown catch. Georgas and Cade Kasmer both had touchdown runs for York, which will play at No. 14 Downers Grove South next week.

Oak Park 58, East Aurora 7: East Aurora (5-5) had a rough time in just its fifth playoff appearance in school history.

Class 7A

West Chicago 48, Prosser 24: West Chicago posted its first playoff win in 52 years by rolling over the Falcons. It was the seventh playoff appearance by West Chicago, which won a state title in 1974. No. 35 West Chicago (5-5), which will meet No. 3 Downers Grove North next.

Class 6A

Notre Dame 44, Maine West 0: In the first football meeting between two schools just 5 miles apart, Notre Dame took a 44-0 halftime lead and coasted from there. Maine West finished 3-7 for the season.

Carmel 38, Bulls Prep 20: Carmel scored just 46 seconds into the game. That gave the No. 18 Corsairs (4-6) enough momentum to slow Bulls Prep. Reed Dangel threw touchdown passes of 18 yards to Kyron Hart and 22 yards to Cam Jackson. Jorden Moore had a pair of touchdown runs covering eight and 25 yards for Carmel, which will play at No. 2 Geneva next week.

Highland Park 35, Streamwood 14: Highland Park led 14-0 at the half and then pulled away from No. 22 Streamwood (3-7), which was making its first playoff appearance since 2011.

Willowbrook 42, Amundsen 6: Willowbrook rolled to a convincing win. The No. 14 seed Warriors (7-3) will play at No. 3 Hononegah next.

Class 5A

Glenbard South 40, Payton 7: The Raiders built a 27-0 lead and were never threatened. Elijah Donahue had a 46-yard touchdown run, and Tommy Bauman tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Baldauf. No. 17 Glenbard South (6-4) will play at No. 1 Antioch next weekend.

Deerfield 35, Grayslake Central 7: Deerfield built a 21-0 halftime lead. Rayshaun Wright cut the deficit to 21-7 in the third quarter on a one-yard run, but that is as close as the No. 19 Rams (4-6) would get.

Class 4A

Aurora Central Catholic 49, Carver 8: Aurora Central roared to a big lead at Eckersall Stadium in Chicago Saturday and coasted for the win. The No. 22 Chargers(4-6) will play at No. 6 Rauner next.

Class 3A

Sandwich 57, Lisle 12: Lisle’s most successful season since 2022 ended. Collins Miles and Jeremiah Jackson added rushing touchdowns for Lisle (4-6), which qualified for the playoffs after playing only junior varsity football last season.