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Aaron Bailey rushes Bolingbrook to ‘W‘
Updated: October 28, 2011 10:51PM
Bolingbrook wanted a good start to what it hopes is a long playoff run. Neuqua Valley came into Friday night’s Class 8A game thinking upset.
Quarterback Aaron Bailey made sure Bolingbrook didn’t stumble in the first round by racing for 304 yards and four touchdowns, scoring on runs of 71, 80, 12 and 66 yards in a 33-14 victory that was closer than the score indicates.
“This is truly a blessing. I can’t take any of the credit,’’ said Bailey, whose two fourth-quarter touchdowns came with his team holding a 20-14 lead. “My teammates came through. Despite messing up, we really did great.’’
“Their quarterback is a load. He’s tough,’’ Neuqua Valley coach Bryan Wells said. “Take that one athlete off the field and it could have been a different story.’’
Bolingbrook (9-1) advances to the second round to face the winner of Saturday’s Mount Carmel (6-3) vs. Hinsdale Central (6-3) match-up.
Bailey’s 12-yard run made it 26-14 with 7:57 to play and his 66-yarder completed the scoring with 1:33 left.
“You can’t put one guy on him,’’ Bolingbrook coach John Ivlow said. “If you put one guy on him, you’re sadly mistaken and you’re probably going to lose the game.’’
Neuqua Valley (5-5) scored two touchdowns in the last 1:24 of the first half to cut Bolingbrook’s lead to 20-14 at halftime.
“I told them ‘Keep your head up,’’’ Bailey said. “You’re going to have trials and tribulations, this is football.’’
With Bolingbrook leading 20-0 and driving, Joshua Prescher returned an interception 49 yards to the Raiders 31-yard line. Danny Dudek’s 22-yard run set up Joey Rhattigan’s 1-yard dive.
Shane Langton caught a 37-yard pass in the back of the end zone as time expired in the half. Neuqua quarterback Nate Boudreau finished 11-of-26 for 121 yards.
“We had a few big plays there to close out the first half and made it close,’’ Wells said. “We expected it to be close at half.’’
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