'Brook survives first-round scare
BOLINGBROOK -- On a night when the wind was a big factor, and field position was high on the priority list, the Bolingbrook High School coaching staff took a half-time gamble that paid off as the Raiders defeated Lyons Township 17-10 in the opening round of the 8A playoffs.
The Raiders (9-1) won the coin toss before the game and chose to defer their choice until the second half. The result was that Lyons received the opening kick-off, and was going into the wind for the first quarter. While the teams punched, and counterpunched throughout the first half, neither team was able to put points on the board.
At halftime, the decision was made. Bolingbrook coach John Ivlow and his staff chose to defend the north goal to open the second half, so that the Raiders would have the advantage of having the wind at their back in the fourth quarter.
"It was a big gamble," Ivlow said. "But going from experience, we knew it was the right decision."
Jaron Bates returned the second-half kick to the Lyons 38. After Ryan Mitchell completed a 7 yard pass to Keenan Deer, the Lions had their biggest run from scrimmage, a 22-yard burst by Nic Brown that advanced the ball to the Raiders 23. Two more rushing plays advanced the ball to the Raiders 17, and after an incomplete pass by Mitchell, the Lions got on the scoreboard with a 34 yard field goal by Matt Cotiguala.
When the Raiders couldn't advance the ball on their first offensive series of the second half, Chris Williams had the unenviable task of punting into the teeth of the strong south wind.
His punt was blocked, and when it landed just 11 yards down field, the Lions' Jim Newsome attempted to field the ball, but was unable to gather it in. An alert Ryan Buchanan recovered for the Raiders, and in the process, gave Bolingbrook some desperately needed field position.
A quarterback keeper by Brad Geever netted a 31 yard gain to the Lions' 21.
Bolingbrook picked up a first down when it advanced the ball to the Lions' 10, only to have consecutive sacks push the Raiders back to the 23. Geever then got enough protection to complete a 14 yard pass to freshman Aaron Bailey. From there, Nick Knutson connected on a 26-yard field goal to tie the game at 3 with 1:10 to play in the third quarter.
With time running out in the third and the Lions at their own 21 yard line after a holding call, Lyons coach Kurt Weinberg chose to punt on third and 14, to get the best possible field position for his team entering the fourth quarter.
With the wind at their backs, it only took the Raiders six plays to cover 61 yards for the game's first touchdown. Geever led Williams perfectly on a pass play that turned into a 31 yard touchdown pass with 9:33 left.
Karlton Sellers thwarted a Lyons chance with an interception at the Raiders' 1. On a third-and-1 at the Bolingbrook 13, Jamel Martin scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown on an 87-yard touchdown burst up the middle.
" They had their safeties up to try to stop the run, and they were looking for a quarterback sneak," Ivlow said. "We ran an iso play and were able to pop one."
