Oak Forest uses overtime to top Shepard

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:26PM

No Tim Longawa, no problem for Oak Forest as the Bengals (5-2) defeated Shepard 13-6 in overtime in the South Suburban crossover in Palos Heights. Bengals backup quarterback junior Luke Huerta ran in the game-winner in the first overtime.

"We had to bounce back after losing our last home game on Senior Night, so we had to do it for the seniors," Huerta said. "Following Tim Longawa is not an easy thing to do."

Oak Forest running back Tevin Coleman (four carries, 28 yards, TD) scored on a 15-yard run in the middle of the second quarter, but a costly missed extra point made it 6-0. Shepard kicker Tommy Eyer made a 37-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to make it 6-3. Eyer added another 37-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the third quarter to make it 6-6.

An interception by Jeremy Gale of Oak Forest on a bomb to the Bengal 10 at the end of regulation sent the game to overtime. On 3rd and three in the first overtime, Huerta (1-3, 10 yards, 14 carries, 47 yards, TD) broke two tackles and galloped into the endzone. On 4th and 17, Shepard (4-3) quarterback Dontae McCoy (17-27, 100 yards, 19 carries, 79 yards) was flushed out of the pocket and forced to run, but was tackled by Zach Waller after just a five yard gain.

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