York comes back, tops Lockport

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:12PM

The pass seemed to be in the air for eternity.

When York junior David Byerley finally came down with it in the end zone, the 11-yard reception from quarterback Jim Nudera with 2:27 left lifted York to a 21-14 come-from-behind victory over Lockport in the first round of the Class 8A state playoffs in Elmhurst.

The 6-foot-2 Byerley's seventh TD reception this season for the Dukes (9-1) came in the near-right corner of the end zone and just within the sideline. It was York's first passing play of the game out of that formation.

"It felt like forever. That was the longest part of the game for me. It's just so scary not knowing whether it's going to be a touchdown or not because the game was on the line," Byerley said. "I looked for the ball. I didn't know where it was going so I just turned and tried to catch it."

The No. 1-seeded Dukes fell behind 14-7 with 10:40 left but tied the game on their ensuing possession with Ryan Kent's 10-yard touchdown run with 7:54 left following his 45-yard gain to the 14.

The No. 8 Porters (5-5) then got as far as their 40 before a 16-yard punt gave the Dukes the ball back at their 48 with 4:03 left for the winning drive. After Byerley's touchdown, Lockport had an incomplete fourth-down pass at its 25 and York ran out the clock.

Kent rushed for 168 yards on 26 carries and two TDs, giving him 1,526 yards for the season and 21 TDs overall. He is just six yards shy of Cory DeRosa's single-season school record 1,534 in 2006, when York played 13 games and reached the state semifinals before losing at Wheaton Warrenville South.

Nudera was 6-for-13 passing for 86 yards with Byerley catching four passes for 51 yards. Linebacker R.J. Kleinhans had an interception.

After a 7-7 halftime tie, Lockport took the lead on an 8-yard TD run by receiver Dexter Taylor, who replaced standout Dan Holman at running back during the 11-play, 60-yard drive. Taylor rushed for 36 yards on six carries after Holman had 144 yards on 16 carries, including an electrifying 82-yard TD run on the Porters' second possession for a 7-0 lead. Kent tied the game on a 3-yard run 6:26 before halftime.

Lockport's Brent Brock had an interception and fumble recovery. Lockport kicker Mitch Zeiler put wide a 36-yard field goal attempt on the last play of the first half after the teams took a combined three timeouts.

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