6A Playoff Football: Lemont Runs Over Rival Oak Forest
Lemont is one win away from advancing to the 6A IHSA championship game after its 21-14 victory over rival Oak Forest on Saturday night.
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Breaking It Down: Lemont looked like the more dominant team on the Oak Forest Bengals' field during the first half of their matchup. The Bengals were statistically better in almost every category compared to Lemont during the second half of the Saturday evening contest.
However, the Indians' 14-6 lead that the team built-up in the first half was too much for Oak Forest to come back. Lemont came away with its second win of the season on its rival's home turf by a score of 21-14.
With the wind howling, both teams relied on their ground games heavily throughout the contest. There were a total of 70 running plays called compared to 25 passing attempts.
All touchdowns scored in the game were punched in via the ground. Three of them were by Indians running back Christos Giatras and two from Oak Forest halfback Ben Santiago.
Lemont's defense was penalized on four occasions, but they more than made up for it by causing the Bengals' offense to turn the ball over just as many times.
Patch’s MVP: Christos Giatras, Lemont. A night of 34 carries for 136 yards, including touchdown runs of 1, 2 and 23 yards is impressive on its own.
Yet, when the opposing defense knows the run is coming and they are still unable to stop it, the stats become even more eye-popping. Lemont only attempted five passes in the second half, while the 205-pound halfback was given 21 touches in the final two quarters.The senior running back also caught two passes for 45 yards.
Lemont Stat Pack: Zach Brosseau completed 5-of-14 passes for 108 yards. Joe Hehir caught two passes for 41 yards, and connected on all three of his extra point attempts. Jake Lemming blocked a punt in the second quarter that led to an Indians touchdown on the offense's next drive. Jon Clark and Connor O'Brien each recorded a sack. Jake Lawrence recovered a fumble, while Oak Forest was in Lemont's territory with less than five minutes remaining in regulation.
Oak Forest Stat Pack: Tom Zale rushed for 61 yards on 9 carries, and combined with Nick Ciufia to complete 6-of-11 passes for 139 yards total. Ciufia also rushed for 17 yards on 5 carries. Corey Brent intercepted a pass, while Lemont was inside Oak Forest's red zone with less than a minute to play in the first half. Santiago rushed for 68 yards on 13 carries. Tom Livingston recorded a sack for a loss of 13 yards. Five different Bengal wide receivers caught a pass.
Quotable I: “Our kids went ahead, and dug deep," Lemont head coach Eric Michaelsen said. "We got a couple of nice drives after they scored, and that was key."
Quotable II: “I can't wait to bring the game home to our crowd, Giatras said. "They really deserve it. [I] hope to get the win next week and go to state; live my dream."
Team Records: Lemont is 11-1. Oak Forest is 10-2.
What’s Next: While Oak Forest's season is over, Lemont will move on to face Crete-Monee next weekend, after their 42-6 win over Ottawa Township.
IHSA 6A Playoff Scores: Cary Grove 7, Crystal Lake Central 0; Lake Forest 31, Notre Dame 19. For more scores, check out IHSA ScoreZone.
Ralph Chichester
1:31 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
This was another tough battle between two old rivals Lemont pulled it out 21-14 but the Bengals did not go down easy will give them more incentive for next year
NANCY GRACE
6:19 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Great game, if Oak Forest scored on their first drive and it would have been a different outcome,just saying.
jack
6:35 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Pretty tough to beat a football team 3 times in one season. Congrats!
Ralph Chichester
8:15 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Turnovers hurt the Bengals just like the last time they played Lemont earlier in the season the blocked Oak Forest punt set up a Lemont score. Then just like the last time these teams met on the same field Bengals were driving and fumbled Lemont cashed in on it late in the game for the go ahead score and time just ran out on the Bengals
Ed Power
9:39 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Best defense Lemont saw all year.
Darnell
12:24 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
Some day O.F. will figure out a way to beat those guys! Great Season Bengal's DO NOT hang your heads!
OFHS alumni
8:53 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012
I would like to comment on the attitudes and unsportmanship behaviors by some of the Lemont players. It is very hard to give praise and credit to a team that doesn't deserve the win based on their behavior. I was appalled to see arms flaring and mocking at a respected head coach during halftime. Not only was I distraught about this, if this was my child I would be embarrassed. Has anyone ever told those kids you don't act like that toward a respected adult? Not only was this witnessed, at the end of the game Lemont players were celebrating, which they should do respectively...not doing the motion of "suck it" toward players and opposing crowd. Congrats on the win Lemont, but work on the sportsmanship.
lhs fan
7:07 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
To OFHS alumni....I attended the game, and here are the things I witnessed about the sportsmanship on the Oak Forest side. The same mocking from the Oak Forest players towards the Lemont players and coaches occurred, and I have it on tape if you would like to view it. The worst was right at halftime, when an Oak Forest player gestured toward the Lemont crowd. Also, I have never, ever, in all my years seen and heard what the show the Oak Forest crowd put on.......many chants of "bs, bs, bs" when plays did not go their way, however....they used the words for "bs". Also, when a Lemont play wasn't a good one, the fans yelled out "you suck, you suck". Also there were many posters in the Oak Forest crowd that had Lemont player names on it, and derogatory comments written about them. And........Lemont players after they left the field when the won the game, they had food thrown at them, and the Lemont coaches were asked if they paid the refs. There was one time an Oak Forest player held up his middle finger at one of the coaches. Not only was I distraught about this, if this was my child, I would be embarrassed. Has anyone ever told those kids you don't act like that toward a respected adult? I
I have it all on tape, and will send it to the IHSA.
Ann Oyed
4:41 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Judging from some of the first postings here, Oak Forest has some sore losers who like to make excuses for their team losing to LHS not once, but twice. Please send the tape to the IHSA. Oak Forest posting actual names of players - sounds like slander to me.
karyn czarnecki
1:55 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Congrats on a great season,
GO BENGALS!!!!
Darnell
10:21 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Patch Censors at work again Comrades!
Lauren Traut
10:41 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
What do you believe we've censored, Darnell?
Shari
11:21 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The video that is posted in this article is a perfect example of bad sportsmanship. If you look closely there is a sign above the banner that is disrespecting one of the Lemont players. I do believe this video needs to be taken down!
scott sleeman
10:40 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Give me a break Lemont fans! I have a kid that played 4 yrs of football at OFHS and said your kids are the biggest trash talking team than any other school he has played against. My daughter was leaving that game friday nite, and was walking out with the cheerleaders, and your players were spitting at our cheerleaders in front of your coaches. I dont know about your school, but at OFHS you are held accountable for that crap. Now that is disrespectfull.