Hatwood, Crete bring down Rockets

Crete-Monee's Stephen Banks (right) runs past Rich East's Robert Wise.
(Jason Han/SouthtownStar)

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Crete-Monee coach Jerry Verde calls running back Brian Hatwood "the vulture."

That's because when the Warriors get close to the end zone, Hatwood swoops in and gets the touchdown, which is what he did four times in Friday night's 42-28 SICA South victory over previously unbeaten Rich East in Crete.

"It feels good when coach (John) Konecki calls my number," smiled the 5-11, 180-pound senior, who scored on runs of 2, 1, 3 and 5 yards, the latter two breaking a 28-28 deadlock in the fourth quarter.

"When it gets close to the goal line, I know I can finish it off for us. Our offense did a great job. All season long our defense has been outstanding. Now it was our turn."

With offensive linemen Brad Wiater, Gary Nelson, DeAngelo Chambers, Cody Hock and Matt Finnin leading the way, Crete-Monee (4-3, 3-0) amassed 302 yards on the ground and another 90 through the air.

"Coach Konecki came up with a great offensive plan and the kids executed," praised Verde.

There was a state playoff atmosphere in the air, as the teams waged an intense battle throughout.

Hatwood's 2-yard touchdown run came at 3:22 of the first quarter, as Dan Ringenberg connected on the first of six extra-point kicks for a 7-0 lead.

That's the way it stayed until the 6:59 mark of the second period when Rich East's Dan Harris tallied from the 5 and Elliot Salinas' kick tied it at 7.

Crete-Monee then moved 73 yards in five plays, as Cortez Scott scored on a 29-yard run to make it 14-7. The Warriors then closed the half ahead 21-7, thanks to a 21-yard interception return by Dylan McElveen to the Rich East 1 where Hatwood finished the job with 1:11 left.

Rich East (6-1, 2-1) took the second half kickoff and marched 64 yards in eight plays, culminating with Imari Henry's 26-yard scoring run to make it 21-13.

Just over three minutes later, Crete-Monee's Julius Spicer (23 carries, 138 yards) dashed 34 yards to paydirt for a 28-13 lead.

"Rich East is a very good team," the sophomore Spicer said. "This is a big rivalry. We had to keep working."

That's what the visiting Rockets did, cutting the margin to 28-21 when Reggie Byrd (17 carries, 65 yards) scored from the 1 and added the conversion run. The big play in this drive was a 67-yard pass play from Stephen O'Neal (6-of-14, 135 yards, 2 interceptions) to Byrd.

When the Rockets got the ball back on the second play of the fourth quarter, Henry (6 carries, 120 yards) raced 75 yards to the end zone and Salinas followed with a kick for a 28-28 deadlock.

"We've had a lot of close games this season, so our kids know how to play when the pressure is on in the fourth quarter," Verde said.

The Warriors got their big break when Hakeem Moore-Hughes recovered a fumble at the Rich East 39. Six plays later Hatwood was completing a 3-yard touchdown run for a 35-28 margin.

After Rich East went out in four downs, Crete-Monee applied the stranglehold, as Spicer moved 16 yards to the 5 and Hatwood did the rest with 3:38 remaining.

The Warriors' defense, led by Greg Barksdale, Gary Young, Tre Jenkins, Immanuel Jackson and David Wright, frustrated Rich East the rest of the way.

"We showed a lot of character, didn't commit many penalties (2) and played hard from start until the finish," Verde lauded.

"We still have a lot of things to work on, but this was a big win for us."

It's always good when you have a "vulture" on your side, picking up those touchdowns.