Football: Homewood-Flossmoor’s ‘D” still up to the test

Updated: October 31, 2011 8:29PM

Homewood-Flossmoor’s defense has stood tall this year, most of the time.

The Vikings were overwhelmed against Lincoln-Way East and Bolingbrook, the top two teams in the SouthWest Suburban Blue. They weren’t alert against Sandburg, and the Eagles grabbed the Week 9 test.

Otherwise, H-F’s defense has displayed the tensile strength needed to advance deep into the playoffs. Friday’s adventure at Marist proved that. The Vikings gave up 350 yards in offense — 292 from the aerial circus orchestrated by Ian Woodworth — but came away with a 48-28 victory, even though Marist scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions.

The key?

“Not giving up the big ball,” coach Craig Buzea said. “Our defense has been a little bit maligned lately, but they can play. And they play against this (type of) offense every day when they play against us (in practice).”

Woodworth was held to 106 passing yards in the second half, of which 41 came on his pass to Ryan Carroll on the game’s last series.

“When we had something at stake, I knew our kids would rise to the occasion,” Buzea said.

The reward for the Vikings (7-3) is a home game with Lockport (7-3) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Might as well not jump: Victor Baker was a state qualifier in the 300-yard low hurdles last track season. Saturday, in Evergreen Park’s 10-6 win over Marshall, he had a touchdown called back because he was penalized for, of all things, hurdling.

Baker jumped over a would-be tackler en route to what would have been an 11-yard touchdown run. Instead, the resulting personal foul pushed the Mustangs back to 22. The possession ended with a fumble.

Afterward, Baker was still a bit confused by the call.

“That shocked me,” he said. “Coach (Dan Hartman) said (the tackler) has to be on the ground to jump over him. (The Marshall player) was still on his feet. The refs didn’t explain it very well.”

Eisenhower coach Travis Moore was disappointed his Cardinals were eliminated from the Class 7A playoffs in the first round. Andrew upended Ike 14-0 Friday.

But he was adamant that the experience will prove beneficial to his players the rest of their lives.

“When you lose, especially a game of this magnitude, it really makes you appreciate winning,” Moore said. “Sports teaches you about life. Someone has to lose. Now it’s all about how you rebound from this. The juniors should want to start working and trying to get better. This should motivate them. The seniors, even if they don’t play football ever again, they should look back at this moment as a learning experience. It’s a teachable moment in many ways.”

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