Belleville East outlasts Minooka

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:04PM

Heading into the fourth quarter leading 17-7, it seemed like host Minooka had total control of a Class 7A football quarterfinal game Saturday evening against visiting Belleville East.

That's when the Lancers turned the tables in a hurry.

Darnell Stevenson and Kevin Gettis each ran for touchdowns on successive possessions to turn a 17-7 deficit into a 21-17 victory.

The win puts No. 5 Belleville East (10-2) in the Class 7A semifinals for the first time in school history. The Lancers will host No. 1 Wheaton Warrenville South (11-0) next week.

"I'm really proud of our kids," Minooka coach Bert Kooi said. "I don't remember a game we were winning. They gave a great effort all year and tonight was no different. I don't know what else to say."

Trailing 21-17 late in the fourth quarter, Minooka tried to rally to victory for the seventh straight game. However, it turned the ball over on downs at the Belleville East 7 with less than a minute to play. The loss was the third for the Indians in semifinal play and ended their finest season at 10-2.

"They busted their hump in the offseason did all the things we asked them to do," Kooi said. "We just didn't get it done tonight."

Leading 17-7 early in the fourth quarter, Minooka had just stopped Belleville East on a fourth down play at the Minooka 47. However, three plays later, the Indians were forced to punt.

Stevenson's 44-yard run on a quarterback keeper cut the Minooka lead to 17-14 with 10:59 to play in the fourth quarter.

The Indians ran three plays and were forced to punt on their next series. However, the punt was muffed, giving the ball to the Lancers at the Minooka 25 with 8:27 to play in the game.

Gettis (four carries, 40 yards) ran 25 yards to pay dirt on the next play, giving the Lancers the lead for good with 8:19 left in the game.

Minooka's Kyle Banks ran for touchdowns of 17 and 1 yards and Jason Lizalek made a 42-yard field goal to give the hosts a 17-7 lead after three quarters.

The loss was the third for the No. 3 Indians in semifinal play and ended their finest season at 10-2.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.