VIDEO: Hersey Stuns Spartan Football On Late TD

From the first drive, it wasn’t how Glenbrook North wanted to start the season.

Hersey scored on the fifth play from scrimmage and jumped out to a 14-point halftime lead against the host Spartans in the season opener. GBN rallied to tie, but lost 21-14 on a late touchdown Friday night.

Stephen Kuc scored on a 50-yard run on the Huskies’ first drive to shock the Spartans and take a 6-0 lead following a missed extra point.

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Early in the second quarter, Hersey quarterback Brad Zaucha found running back Andrew Collins open in the end zone to make it 14-0 following a two-point conversion.

Meanwhile, GBN’s offense failed to get a first down until 4:40 left in the second quarter and had a pair of fumbles, keeping the defense on the field.

“I thought our defense played very well,” GBN coach Bob Pieper said. “There were a couple big plays that they scored on that we didn’t tackle very well, but we couldn’t get off the field the entire game. The offense is to blame for them struggling and being tired.”

It took a fake punt to reignite the Spartans and their fans.

Facing a fourth and three on the Spartans’ 47-yard line, GBN lined up to punt but junior running back Grant Rushing (20 carries for 111 yards) took a direct snap, found a seam and went 53 yards for the touchdown.

GBN’s defense kept Hersey’s deceptive option attack at bay on the next drive to completely turn the momentum North’s way.

“I think at halftime we kind of woke up,” senior Jason Scholl said. “We came out kind of flat.

“I think we ran the ball a little harder, defensively kind of picked up those counters and options a little better.”

The Spartans’ ensuing 13-play drive, which included two successful fourth down conversions, was capped off by a touchdown pass from senior Curt Petty to wide receiver Chad Bruce from 22 yards out.

Bruce streaked down the right sideline and put his hand in the air to call for the ball. He used every bit of his 6-5 frame to out jump the defender and come down with the ball after a bobble.

“I knew if Curt threw me the ball I was going to be able to make a play,” Bruce said. “Curt led me and I was able to get over and it bounced into my hands. I got a little lucky.”

Petty, a first time starter, went 14-26 for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Montana Paley, also a star on the girls soccer team, converted the second of her two extra points to tie it at 14 with 8:54 left in the game.

A Jason Scholl sack ended Hersey’s next drive, but the Spartans had to punt it back to the Huskies, who took over around midfield.

Zaucha (18-27, 210 yards, 2 TD) had a 20-yard run to put his team in scoring range. Two plays later he scrambled and spotted Justin Jobski open in the end zone for the game-winning score with 2:51 remaining.

GBN managed a pair of first downs to get in Hersey territory in the final minute, but three incompletions and a sack ended the drive and the game.

“We didn’t practice very good and that’s just the bottom line,” Pieper said. “We don’t practice well, we don’t play well.”

Next Friday the Spartans visit Lane Tech.

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