IC holds off Byron

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:12PM

Immaculate Conception raced out to a 21-point lead in the first quarter Saturday afternoon against Byron in an IHSA Class 3A playoff match-up, and then the Knights used a late fourth quarter defensive stand to preserve a 35-27 victory in Byron.

Jose Godinez rushed for 102 yards on 15 carries and two scores, including a 49-yard TD run on IC's first offensive play from scrimmage. He also scored the Knights (7-3) final TD on a three-yard run in the opening minutes of the third quarter.

The Tigers trailed 35-14 but scored on back-to-back second-half drives, including a 14-play series that was capped by a five-yard run by quarterback Dustin Elsbury. The senior also tossed a 13-yard fourth down scoring strike to Hunter Hill with just over five minutes left in the contest.

Elsbury rushed for 113 yards and also threw a 44-yard TD pass to Hill with just seconds left in the opening period to cut the deficit to 21-14. Byron's first score came on a 55-yard run by Jared King (19 carries, 134 yards).

Byron (6-4) took possession one final time, backed up on its' own four-yard line, but only managed one first-down on the series and turned the ball over on downs with just over a minute remaining.

IC signal-caller Cody Kotlow ran for 115 yards on eight carries, and also threw a 75-yard TD pass to Tim Hipskind in the first quarter to give the Knights a 21-0 lead after a PAT kick by Adam Muellers.

"It feels good (to win)," said Knights coach Mike Alberts. "But we kind of had that game in hand and we let it get away from us, I am a little disappointed with that."

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