Johnsburg's run game delivers

Comments (...)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Comments

Share

For more high school sports, visit McHenryCountySports.com

HARVARD – In a matchup featuring two former members of the Big Northern Conference Red Division, Johnsburg used a Harvard-like running performance to edge the Hornets, 6-0, in Friday’s first-round IHSA Class 4A playoff game at Dan Horne Field.

“Both teams came out hitting, and we knew right away that we would need a strong running effort to win this game,” Johnsburg wide receiver C.J. Fiedorowicz said. “Harvard has two tremendous backs, and we knew their game plan was to run, run, run.

“But we showed [Harvard] we can play that way, too.”

Justin Peete led No. 11 Johnsburg (7-3) with 130 yards on 22 rushes, but his most crucial series came on the Skyhawks’ only third-quarter possession.

After a scoreless first half, No. 6 Harvard (7-3) ran the ball for 13 consecutive plays before being stalled just outside of field-goal range, forcing the Hornets to punt with just less than five minutes remaining in the quarter.

Johnsburg took over at its own 20-yard line and began to string together its own running attack, as Peete busted loose for runs of 24 and 20 yards up the middle on back-to-back plays.

Four runs and 17 yards later, the Skyhawks faced third-and-goal from Harvard’s 3-yard line. Sophomore quarterback Jon Torgersen faked a handoff to Peete and connected with Fiedorowicz (two catches, 41 yards) in the end zone with four seconds remaining in the quarter.

“The linebacker came over the top, I faked to the outside, gave a little swim move and the inside was wide open,” Fiedorowicz said. “It was the perfect play following Peete’s hard runs.

“They didn’t see it coming.”

On the scoring drive, Peete ran the ball seven times for 65 yards.

“The offensive line did a heck of a job,” Peete said. “I couldn’t have got those yards without the big men opening up holes in the middle.

“At halftime, we knew we would come out, be the more aggressive team, dominate and score first.”

Johnsburg’s defense held Harvard scoreless for the rest of the game, but the Hornets came closest to the end zone on their final possession.

Getting the ball back on offense with 5:47 left in the fourth quarter, Harvard running back Vince Gabrys (33 carries for 100 yards) and fullback Andrew Kick (13 for 44) led the Hornets to the Skyhawks’ 20. On fourth-and-three, Harvard opted to throw rather than run, but quarterback Zach Fiegel’s pass was tipped and caught by Gabrys 2 yards shy of the first down.

“We were able to audible, find holes in the defense and gain positive yardage the whole game, but we weren’t able to punch it in the end zone,” Gabrys said. “We were pretty confident we could score, but I don’t know, it just didn’t happen today.”

Despite the loss, Harvard coach Tim Haak said the team should be proud of their season.

“We made tremendous strides all year and we had a shot to win this game,” Haak said. “These kids always give the team a chance to win every week.

“The kids came ready to play and showed great heart out there, but so did the Skyhawks.”

Comments