Late kick leads Crystal Lake South upset

Updated: September 9, 2011 10:17PM

Crystal Lake South’s Brad Walovitch made it a birthday to remember Friday in Cary.

Walovitch, who turned 18 on Friday, blasted a 51-yard field goal with 6.1 seconds left to help the Gators edge No. 10 Cary-Grove 10-7.

“It was the best birthday present ever,” said Walovitch, who had shanked a 52-yard field goal just minutes earlier and had not made a field goal this year, missing three last week.

“I didn’t feel any pressure. I knew if we missed, there was still overtime. I really didn’t think I hit it good. But it was straight and just went over.”

Crystal Lake South coach Chuck Ahsmann never gave it a second thought about going for a field goal. Even after the Gators were penalized for illegal motion just prior to the kick moving it from a 46-yarder to 51-yards.

“I have a lot of faith in him,” Ahsmann said. “The real issue was that we have a new long snapper and holder. But they did a good job on the one we missed and this one was perfect.”

Walovitch’s play was set up by a fake punt and a 16-yard run for first down Reese Dziedzic with just over a minute to play.

“We knew the game would come down to turnovers and special teams,” Ahsmann said. “And we won the battle of special teams.

Cary-Grove (2-1, 0-1 Fox Valley Valley) took advantage of a second quarter fumble to take a 7-0 halftime lead.

Andrew Sobeski outmuscled two Crystal Lake South players to recover the ball at the Gators’ 16. On the next play, Ryan Mahoney scampered around the left end and dove into the end zone to put the Trojans up 7-0 with 8:18 left in the first half.

Crystal Lake South (3-0, 1-0), which struggled offensively in the firsr half, found their stride late in the third quarter.

Austin Fowler threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Dziedzic with 11:09 to play to cap a 5-play, 45-yard drive which included a 32-yard pass to Walovitch.

Fowler, who was once a fourth-string quarterback on the freshman team three years ago, got the start on Friday. Ahsmann moved former starter Brendan Chrystal to help shore uip the defense.

“It was great to get to start,” Fowler said. “And even better to get a win.”

Crystal Lake South’s defense held the Trojans in check. Led by Brandon Madoni, Brandon Mitchell, Steve Forner, Boston Matthews, Eric Johnson, Joe Coriaci and Chrystal the Gators allowed just 94 yards of offense.

“I was really proud of the way we played defensively,” Ahsman said. “Its tough to stop an option offense like theirs.”

© 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.