Proviso West blows by Oak Park

Updated: October 22, 2011 12:47AM

Proviso West played like a team whose playoff hopes hung in the balance against visiting Oak Park as the Panthers produced big performances on both sides of the ball - forcing turnovers and racking up points - in its 42-6 victory on Senior Night Friday.

From the opening kickoff, which senior Trashawn Harper returned 64 yards to the Huskies’ 26-yard line, Proviso West was revved up, opening the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown sneak by senior quarterback Cole Quincy with 7 minutes, 56 seconds to play in the first quarter, and didn’t let up until the final result was well in hand.

“This was a big win for the program, more special than ever because of the way things have gone off the field this year,” Proviso West coach Famous Hulbert said. “We were able to save our season last week (41-14 victory over Lyons) and carry that over to tonight. We didn’t play our best, but I’m proud of the effort the guys put forth tonight.

“We’re confident we’re in the playoffs, though,” he added. “We have 40-some-odd points and no team from the West Suburban Silver has ever missed the playoffs with five wins since they went to the new format, so I’m pretty sure we’ll make it.”

It looked as though that might be all the scoring for the Panthers (5-4, 3-3 West Suburban Silver) until Quincy completed a pass on a third down and nine to junior wide receiver Demetrius Streeter for 44 yards to keep a drive alive. Four plays later, Deonte Eiland plowed it in from a yard out to with 54.7 seconds left to increase the advantage to 14-0 after senior Adame Clemente put his second straight PAT through the uprights.

But the Panthers weren’t through, yet.

Oak Park (3-6, 1-5) tried to get on the scoreboard before halftime behind the arm of sophomore quarterback Jacob Lintvelt, who hit senior Khali Hartzog for seven yards to start the drive, which began at their own 25. The following play proved disastrous for the Huskies in more ways than one.

Lintvelt’s next pass was picked off by Proviso West junior defensive back Carl Geanes, who returned it 45 yards to the Oak Park 10-yard line. In the process, Lintvelt was blocked and went down hard, while senior defensive lineman Jacob Friesen also was injured on the play.

Two plays later, Quincy found Harper in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown that would give the Panthers a commanding 21-0 halftime lead.

The Proviso West defense made another interception, by junior Jameer Thurman, and forced the Huskies to fumble five times, recovering three, for its five turnovers leading to 21 Panther points. It also held Oak Park star running back Jakari Cammon to 93 yards, the first time this season he had been held under 100 yards rushing, including back-to-back efforts over 200 yards on the ground the previous two games.

Cammon rushed for 82 yards, just missing the century mark after gaining only 23 yards on nine carries in the first half. He only ran the ball three times in the second half, but broke one for 52 yards before he fumbled the ball deep in Panthers’ territory.

“It was hard to get Jakari going because they knew who to target,” Oak Park head coach John Hoerster said. “It was a good game on their part. But we made some mental mistakes and too many turnovers that hurt us. Our defense caused a few, but we always gave it back. That has been our Achilles heel all season.”

The Panthers scored three more times after the break, including a 4-yard run by junior Jamaal Payton and an 8-yard scamper by Ishmeal Akiu. A touchdown by senior Ryan Hathaway made it 35-6 midway through the third quarter when he fell on the ball that rolled into the end zone after Cole and Streeter hooked up on a 48-yard completion that Streeter coughed up on the 1-yard line.

Oak Park’s only points came when junior running back Sedrick McDonald raced across the goal line from 12-yards out.

Hulbert said he believes the play of his seniors will determine how far Proviso West advances in the state playoffs.

“We feel we’re the best 5-4 team in the state,” Hulbert said. “If we get the right matchup, we can beat anyone. We’ve played against some of the top teams in the state already, and it’s because the senior class has woken up – they’ve made more plays the last couple of week than they have the previous seven games combined. We’re only going to go as far as the seniors takes us. As for the offense, we’re only going to go as far as Quincy takes us.”

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