Saxons' defense stands tall vs. Titans

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The offense got to Schaumburg to the playoffs.

On Saturday, it was the defense that advanced the Saxons to the second round.

No. 13 seed Schaumburg (6-4) upset No. 4 Glenbrook South 20-16 in the 8A playoffs as the Saxons’ defense emerged with its biggest game of the season.

“Our defense picked a perfect time to compete at this level,” Schaumburg coach Matt Stilling said.

Not until Glenbrook South’s final two possessions was it able to get on the board. For the first eight, the Saxons stopped it cold. Schaumburg intercepted two passes and held the Titans (8-2) on three fourth-down attempts.

“Oh, man,” Schaumburg quarterback Anthony Iannotti said. “That’s a heck of a ballgame. Our defense carried us all game.”

Iannotti, as usual, did find a way to contribute. In the air, he hit Mike Valenti for a 9-yard touchdown with 5.5 seconds remaining in the second quarter for the game’s lone first-half score. On the ground, he provided the game-winner with a 70-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Glenbrook South’s offense did find a way to open things up in the final minutes to make it interesting. Quarterback Ryan Hopkins and wide receiver Trent Monckton played a game of catch down the field to set up touchdowns by Mike Hirsch and Alex Langill.

Hopkins was 21-for-32 for 293 yards and a touchdown. Monckton had 12 receptions for 204 yards.

Glenbrook South pulled within 20-16 with 30.9 seconds remaining, but had its onside kick recovered by Schaumburg.

Schaumburg running back Sheppard Little had 108 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.

Valenti and Perrish Bell had interceptions for the Saxons.

After the win, Schaumburg’s Steve Skulski and Ronell Rogers tried to dump Gatorade on Stilling, but Stilling avoided it, and it ended up on Valenti.