Oswego finishes regular season on high note

Updated: October 21, 2011 10:29PM

Following a 16-10 second-round playoff loss to Providence in 2009 – the third straight second-round exit for the Panthers – coach Dave Keely decided a change was needed. The Panthers had advanced no further than the third round of the playoffs since the 2003 state championship year, and Keely felt a move away from the smashmouth running game to a spread attack would hold the key to success in the postseason.

Unfortunately, Oswego missed the playoffs last season, creating a sense of urgency with this Panthers team heading into this season.

An 0-2 start to this year only heightened it.

Yet with a 21-7 victory over Minooka Friday night, the Panthers capped their regular season winning seven straight and capturing the Southwest Prairie Conference title – and now will wait to see if they will host a playoff game.

“During the summer, we had this game circled,” Oswego quarterback Ryan West said. “This game was huge for us, and myself, too. Last year they knocked us out of the playoffs. This year, it’s a different story.”

Oswego (7-2, 7-0) scored 14 points in the second half, both on West touchdown passes. In the third quarter, West hit Josh Mapalo from 22 yards out to put the Panthers up 14-7 and then he hit Jack Kwiatkowski from 12 yards out early in the fourth.

West threw for 235 yards on 19 of 37 passing with three touchdowns and one interception, counteracting a pressure Indians (6-3, 6-1) defense with sharp passing on short and intermediate routes.

“We gave Ryan West too many opportunities,” Minooka coach Bert Kooi said of the Indians’ three turnovers. “He’s too good. We didn’t do what we needed to do on both sides of the ball, but you can’t give him as many shots at what he had tonight.”

The Panthers defense also played its best game of the season. Coming in giving up 27.3 points per game, Oswego managed to keep Minooka’s vaunted rushing attack between the 20’s. Indians quarterback Joe Carnagio rushed for 110 yards while running backs Kalvin Hill, Dane Colvin and Josh Pullara combined for another 132, yet they could not find the end zone in the second half.

The first half was played to a 7-7 draw as both teams battled a slick field that saw ball carries slip down on open-field cuts, self-destructive penalties that stalled drives and turnovers that killed them. After a scoreless first quarter that featured six combined penalties for 45 yards and a West interception, the Indians scored first on a 16-yard run by Hill (84 yards) that capped a 4-play, 80-yard drive.

Oswego scored on its ensuing possession, moving 69 yards in four plays – a drive aided by a 15-yard Minooka personal foul penalty. On third and three from the Minooka 33, West hit Brett Wainwright on a crossing route that he took to the end zone to tie the game.

The teams were penalized 10 times for 85 yards in the first half while Oswego intercepted Carnagio two times.

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