Lockport onside kicks Simeon from playoffs

Updated: October 28, 2011 11:27PM

After being shut out in the first half, Lockport coach Don McKillip created a spark with an onside kick to open the half, which led to a touchdown drive that propelled the Porters to an 18-15 upset over Simeon in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs Friday at Gately Stadium.

Richie Guess scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 11-yard run with 3:22 remaining.

“There was no doubt in my mind that we were going to onside kick to start the second half,” McKillip said. “We felt we needed something to ignite us.”

Lockport (7-3) drove 45 yards after recovering the onside kick and scored on a one-yard run by Billy Reed. The Porters then recovered a fumble that led to a 27-yard field goal by Steve Fankam that cut the deficit to 12-10 with 4:58 left in the third quarter.

Simeon (7-3) drove to a first-and-goal at the Lockport 2-yard line, but settled for a 21-yard field goal by John Gardner.

Lockport responded with the game-winning 14-play, 80-yard drive. Reed had four carries for 42 yards, including two key scrambles on third-and-long situations.

“Billy [Reed] told me I was going to score and that it was all on me,” Guess said.

Simeon drove to a fourth-and-six at the Lockport 10 and went for the win, but a fourth down pass was deflected by Lockport’s Steve Martinez.

Simeon took a 12-0 halftime lead behind quarterback Robert Gregory, threw a 27-yard touchdown to Sharold Roach and ran for a 79-yard score.

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