Sports

Goal Line Stand Secures Spartan Conference Title

Glenbrook North keeps Highland Park High School's football team out of the end zone four times in final two minutes to secure Central Suburban League North Division crown.

A Glenbrook North goal line stand in the final two minutes secured a 21-17 victory Friday at Highland Park High School in a game deciding the Central Suburban League North Division championship.

Both teams were undefeated (4-0) in conference play heading into Friday’s season finale. Highland Park dominated the first half taking a 17-0 lead into intermission before the Spartans scored three times in less than eight minutes to go ahead, 21-17, with 6:23 to play.

“We were scared by the fear of losing,” Glenbrook quarterback A.J. Spitz said. “The seniors really stepped up. We didn’t want to be known as the ones who blew it.”

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But the Giants were not done. Stopped once and forced to punt with 5:33 to play, Highland Park’s defense held Glenbrook on three plays before the snap sailed over the punter’s head giving the Giants the ball on the Spartan 43.

Highland Park quarterback Tommy Sutker then ran for 10 yards on two plays before throwing to Jack McGuire for 17 to give his team first down on the Spartan five-yard line with 1:49 to go. Advancing the ball to the one on fourth down with seconds remaining, the Spartans stopped Kelshawn Shields inches short of the goal line.

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“We had four chances to get it done and we couldn’t do it,” Highland Park Coach Hal Chiodo said. “We had chances to make plays and we didn’t.”

After both teams turned the ball over on fumbles to start the game, Highland Park went ahead 3-0 on a 28-yard Josh Pollack field goal. Sutker found Luke Norcia on a 14-yard touchdown pass four minutes later for a 10-0 lead.

With the Giant defense continuing to dominate, Jacob Wiczer picked up a Spitz fumble and ran 50 yards into the end zone with less than two minutes left in the first half. Highland Park held the Spartans to 38 yards on the ground and 44 through the air.

Then Glenbrook Coach Bob Pieper made some changes. “We had a little talk at halftime,” he said. “We changed our blocking scheme. We had our guys slide a little differently.”

Spitz was no longer contained. In less than eight minutes of the third and fourth quarters, he threw three touchdown passes, two to Alex Zera for 16 and 26 yards and the other a 36-yarder to Brice Call. Two were on fourth and long. “I could have gone for the first down but we wanted it all,” Spitz said.

Both teams will advance to the Illinois High School Association playoffs. Glenbrook North finished the season with a 6-3 record and 5-0 in league play. Highland Park completed the year with a 7-2 mark and 4-1 in the conference. Playoff pairings will be announced Saturday night.


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