Stay Connected with YourSeason
Conference crown a first for Eisenhower
Updated: October 15, 2011 12:18AM
The Eisenhower Cardinals have been called many things during their 50-plus years of existence — good, bad or indifferent.
Undefeated conference champion hasn’t been one of them.
That is, until Friday night.
Justin Geiter’s 2-yard touchdown run in the third overtime lifted Eisenhower to a 23-17 victory over archrival Richards in a South Suburban Red battle in Blue Island.
The victory, which came on what would have been Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 121st birthday, certified the Cardinals’ status as SSC Red champions with a 5-0 mark. It was the first time the Cardinals (7-1 overall) defeated the Bulldogs since a 1998 Class 4A second-round playoff game and also was Eisenhower’s first win over Richards in the regular season since 1983.
“I’m speechless,” said Eisenhower coach Travis Moore, tears in his eyes. “It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Richards looked to have the game in hand late in the fourth quarter. Tommy Mister’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Danny Gardner on the first play of the fourth quarter broke a scoreless tie and gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead after Miguel Castro’s point-after kick.
When Donte Johnson picked off a Geiter pass at the Eisenhower 40-yard line with 3:20 remaining, the Bulldogs (4-4, 3-2) looked to have the victory sewn up.
But on the next play from scrimmage, Brian Hettiger fumbled and Ike’s Lavantis Lewis recovered with 3:15 left in regulation.
The Cards then drove down the field and with 53.1 seconds left, Geiter hooked up with Lewis on an 11-yard TD pass. Gio Sanchez provided the PAT to force OT.
Both teams settled for field goals in the first OT, Castro splitting the uprights from 37 yards out and Sanchez following with a 25-yarder.
The Cards took a 17-10 lead when Geiter hooked up with Kenneth Simpson on a 9-yard TD pass in the second OT. Mister (8-of-17, 68 yards) countered with a 4-yard toss to Davonta Corner to tie the game at 17.
Richards failed to score in the third OT, Castro missing wide right on a 29-yard field-goal attempt.
That set the stage for Ike.
After Leo Okeke (14 carries, 95 yards) picked up eight yards on first down, Geiter busted in for the game-winning score.
Cardinals fans rushed the field, with many of the players in tears.
“This was for the senior who finished 0-9 two years ago and the seniors who finished 3-6 last year,” said Geiter, who rushed for 40 yards and passed for 122. “We wanted to do this for all the Cardinals.”
© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.
Cell Phone Alerts
Comments Click here to view or make a comment