Screen opens the door for Woodstock

Hoffman Estates' football squad had the lead and seemed to have the momentum just before halftime of its season opener at Woodstock.

The Hawks held a 14-10 advantage and had the hosts pinned deep in their own territory.

But Woodstock used a 68-hard screen play from senior quarterback Derek Brown to Cole Freund which set up a 15-yard scoring pass to Ryan Ortman giving the Blue Streak a 17-14 advantage with 14 seconds remaining in the half.

Woodstock never gave the momentum back, adding a 29-yard field goal by Pellumb Halili on the opening drive of the second half in securing a 20-14 victory.

"That screen was a big play," said Hoffman Estates coach Bill Helzer. "We were feeling pretty good and they came back and responded just before half."

"That changed the momentum," added Brown, who completed 13 of 22 passes for 236 yards. "That just gave us the extra energy to get the ball in the end zone."

Hoffman Estates was missing starting linebacker and captain Matt Schwendinger, who injured his shoulder at practice on Wednesday.

The Hawks suffered their second big blow when starting quarterback Blake Heyman injured his right shoulder just before halftime. Heyman fueled the Hawks' offense in the first half, completing 16 passes for 113 yards, including a 37-yard scoring pass to Tyler Davis that gave the Hawks a 7-0 first-quarter advantage.

After the Blue Streaks cut the lead to 7-3, the senior added to the Hawks' attack on the ensuing possession, scampering 45 yards to push Hoffman's advantage to 14-3 with 2:46 remaining in the first quarter.

But Freund scored on a 2-yard plunge with 8:21 remaining in the second quarter to narrow Woodstock's deficit to 14-10.

Junior Frank Wades came on in relief of Heyman in the second half and completed 8 of 15 passes for 72 yards. He drove the Hawks to Woodstock's 18 with under 18 seconds remaining in the game, but he had his final pass intercepted in the end zone.

"When Woodstock needed a play they got it," said Helzer, whose team squandered two drives in the opening half inside the red zone including a fourth-and-1 at the 1-yard line. "The positive thing is we're going to get better."