Plan B for Bengals: bounce back

Oak Forest went into Friday night's South Suburban Blue showdown against visiting Lemont with a short list of goals that included an 8-0 record, a firm grasp on a conference title and maybe even some revenge.

The Bengals left the field with none of the above after being walloped 31-7.

Now, the agenda changes.

Forget going undefeated. Do what you can in conference. Get on a roll for the state playoffs.

"We're going to bring it all next week," Bengals senior fullback Bobby Walsh said.

Shepard, beware.

"We're going to regroup, put the wheels back on," Bengals coach Brian McDonough said. "I've got a great group of senior leaders, so we'll be fine."

Friday night featured two teams that slugged it out in a crazy Class 6A semifinal last year that went to Lemont, 27-20.

The rematch started out as wildly as the playoff game ended, when on the second play from scrimmage, Oak Forest quarterback Jon Wolf tossed a screen pass in the flat to Steve Freeze, who bolted down the right sideline for a 65-yard touchdown. Michael Williams booted the PAT to make it 7-0 Bengals.

"We just thought we would catch them off guard," Wolf said. "Steve broke a tackle or two and went all the way."

Lemont (8-0, 4-0) didn't respond in stunning fashion but rather in smashing fashion behind running back Danny Hayes (24 carries, 155 yards), who accounted for more than half of a 68-yard scoring drive. Lemont would tie the game at 7-7 with 7:09 remaining in the first period, and it added another touchdown later to take a 14-7 advantage into halftime.

Early in the second period, Oak Forest lost Freeze to a knee injury. The rest of the offense just seemed lost.

After the 65-yard TD pass play, the Bengals managed just 50 yards the rest of the night.

"They're the best defense we've faced all year," Wolf said. "They were a lot bigger than us, and we didn't execute. I don't know what else to say."

Wolf threw two interceptions. Two trick plays had less than desirable results.

But the backbreaker might have been a drive late in the third quarter.

Still within striking distance at 21-7, the Bengals had a second-and-1 at their own 45 when Walsh was stuffed for no gain, Wolf was taken down on a keeper off left tackle for a one-yard loss and Walsh again gained nothing on a burst up the middle.

Stopping Lemont's 5-foot-9, 160-pound yard-eater, Hayes, meanwhile, became increasingly difficult. If anything, the Indians stopped themselves on a couple of occasions by going away from what was working. Ron Blaszkowski made one interception for Oak Forest, and on a fourth-and-1 from the Bengals 6, Lemont didn't trust its running game and wound up missing a field-goal try.

Still, adding up the pluses and minuses, McDonough was mighty impressed with Lemont.

"They're outstanding in every facet," he said.

"They're more balanced than they were last year. Their big studs aren't there, but man, every kid is great.

"They do more things than they did last year. They played good defense, not just a couple of kids killing you. They could go a long way."