Zambrano’s field goal lifts Thornton

Updated: October 8, 2011 5:35PM

In his 26 years as head coach at Thornton, Bill Mosel had just about seen it all...until Saturday.

Now he may have as Aaron Zambrano kicked a 24-yard field goal as time expired to give the Wildcats (5-2, 4-1 Southwest Suburban Red) a 16-13 victory over rival Thornwood (4-3, 2-3) in Harvey. It was Thornton’s 10th straight victory over the Thunderbirds.

“I have never had a game-winning field goal kicked for us,” Mosel said.

Zambrano got the opportunity to kick the game winning field goal after Thornton’s defense held Thornwood inside the 5 and a punt attempt traveled just one yard and the Wildcats took possession on the Thornwood 5 with 2.7 seconds left in regulation. Zambrano, who had kicked a 28-yard field goal with 1:08 left to tie the score, took a deep breath and kicked the ball through the uprights.

“I practice every day and I was pretty confident,” said Zambrano, who also had a 19-yard field goal. “I have to give a lot of credit to our defense for getting the ball back and to the offensive line for giving me the time to make the kick.”

Thornton, on a seven-yard run by Jamal Towns in the first quarter, led 7-0 at the half and made it 10-0 on Zambrano’s field goal in the third quarter. Thornwood stormed back to make it 10-7 on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Wilson to Patrick Bolton with 2:56 left in the third quarter. The Thunderbirds took the lead with three minutes left on a 2-yard touchdown run by Wilson, who finished with 95 yards in 18 carries.

A 43-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jowahn Brown (17 of 30 for 230 yards) to Jamel Frazier (seven catches for 133 yards) helped Thornton get down field for Zambrano’s tying field goal. The defense held and set up the game-winning field goal.

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