Raiders knock out Hubbard

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A roughing-the-kicker penalty against Hubbard changed the momentum and helped Glenbard South send the last Public League team in the state playoffs back to the Prep Bowl playoffs.

The Raiders seized the momentum and knocked off the Greyhounds 14-7 in a Class 6A second-round playoff game Saturday at Gately Stadium. They will play Antioch in the quarterfinals.

Down 7-0, Glenbard South (9-2) pulled even with an 81-yard drive capped by a five-yard touchdown run by Curtis Ford with 55 seconds left in the third quarter. A roughing-the-kicker penalty on a punt gave the Raiders new life.

Glenbard South’s defense then stuffed Hubbard (9-2) for three consecutive plays to force a punt. Raiders quarterback Trace Wanless followed by sandwiching two completions around a holding penalty. The second completion was a 31-yard touchdown pass to Louis Erkins that put Glenbard South ahead 14-7.

‘‘That penalty opened up everything for the offense,’’ Wanless said. ‘‘It gave us momentum and got the game going our way. ... On the touchdown pass, Louis made a great play and took it in.’’

‘‘Curtis Ford got going in the second half, and the seniors really stepped up,’’ Raiders coach Dan Starkey said. ‘‘I played on a carpet like this at Illinois State. We tried to prepare the kids, and we got them turf shoes because we thought it could get slick if it rained.

‘‘I tried to talk to our kids about the great history and tradition of Gately Stadium. The crowd was great on both sides. It was loud and a great atmosphere to play in.’’

The Greyhounds got on the board first when Will Taylor scored from a yard out on fourth down after a seven-yard gain on third-and-goal from the 8.

Glenbard South’s best drive of the first half came late, but it ended when a pass was tipped by linebacker Darius Moffett and picked off by cornerback Brandon Noland.

‘‘I’d be surprised if we had more than one or two first downs in the first half,’’ Starkey said. ‘‘We just were misfiring. In the second half, the offensive line and Curtis took over. I think we wore them down a little.’’