Tinley Park bounces back for win

Updated: October 29, 2011 9:02PM

After being outscored 13-0 in the third quarter by Grayslake Central and falling behind for the first time Saturday night, host Tinley Park answered the bell.

First, with a Kyle Sheridan one-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter then with a heavy dose of Greg Wallace to finish off a 35-22 Class 5A first round win.

“We talked about responding to adversity,” Tinley Park coach Nick Johnston said. “Things aren’t going to go perfect. Our defense stepped up and made some stops and played solid defense in the fourth. We’ve just got to start playing four quarters.”

Tinley Park (8-2) will travel to Marian Central Catholic for a second-round game next week.

Down 22-21 after Joel Valdivia’s 4-yard TD run and Jon Gurchak’s extra point gave the Rams (7-3) the lead, Sheridan’s keeper capped a 59-yard drive that was highlighted by a great catch off a deflection by Tracey Brandy for a 29-yard gain. A 2-point conversion pass from Sheridan to Eldridge Anderson gave the Titans a 29-22 lead.

After two stops by the Tinley Park defense, the hosts iced their first home playoff win since 1993 with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that featured all runs and was capped off by another Sheridan 1-yard sneak with 52 seconds left.

Wallace (23 carries, 190 yards) ran nine times for 53 yards on the drive, getting the last laugh in a great duel with Valdivia (22 carries, 171 yards, three touchdowns).

“The coaches put it to me: ‘Is it going to be you or (Valdivia),?’” Wallace said. “I made sure it was me. My line blocked great and we did what we had to do. ”

The Titans jumped to a 21-9 halftime lead behind Sheridan (7-of-12, 95 yards) touchdown passes of 11 yards to Anderson and five yards to Brandy and a 51-yard Wallace jaunt to pay dirt.

Frank Redding had an interception for Tinley Park.

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