Taking care of business

Comments (...)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Comments

Share

For more high school sports, visit McHenryCountySports.com

HARVARD – Senior quarterback Zach Fiegel and the rest of the Harvard football team swarmed onto Dan Horne Field on Friday looking for a win and a chance to host a playoff game next week.

“We took care of business tonight,” Fiegel said, “We’re confident and will be ready to go next week.”

With their strong running game and defense, the Hornets improved their chances of getting home-field advantage, beating Burlington Central, 27-7, in the Big Northern Conference East Division finale for both teams.

Vince Gabrys, the area’s leading rusher and scorer, outran the Rockets’ defense for a 59-yard touchdown run on the fourth play from scrimmage for the Hornets (7-2 overall, 4-1 BNC East).

Harvard’s defense then recovered a fumble on B-C’s 29-yard line. Six plays later, senior fullback Andy Kick capped the Hornets’ run-heavy drive, pounding it in from 3 yards out to give Harvard a 14-0 lead with 4:27 left in the first quarter.

The most impressive touchdown of the night came midway through the second quarter when Fiegel threw to Kick in the flat. Kick turned upfield, ran over a defensive back and scampered 35 yards for the score to make it 21-0 with 5:10 left in the first half.

The Hornets’ defense was solid in the first half, allowing 51 yards and forcing three turnovers. Gabrys and Collin Nolen each had an interception off Rockets quarterback Tim Maroder.

Harvard coach Tim Haak was pleased with the victory but still saw a team that needed to improve.

“The defense gave us opportunities to extend our lead in that first half, we just didn’t take advantage of it,” Haak said. “I’m proud where this team is right now, though. These kids have matured and proven themselves that they can succeed.”

Gabrys finished with 138 yards on 20 carries, all in the first half. The senior was banged up and did not return to the game, although Haak said he could have played through the injury. Cody Melson replaced Gabrys and scored on a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Comments