Zach Ullrich had no doubts.
Even trailing 14-0 after just five minutes of Saturday’s Class 8A quarterfinal clash with Lake Park, the Wheaton North quarterback knew his team would come back.
Ullrich scored two second-half touchdowns, including the game-winner with 2 minutes 24 seconds to play, as the No. 2 Falcons rallied for a 29-23 victory over the Lancers.
“There was no way we were going to let a 14-0 lead let us down,” Ullrich said. “I believed in my team, I believed in the defense, everybody. We have the attitude where we’re never going to give up.”
Wheaton North (12-0) trailed 17-7 early in the second half and 23-14 early in the fourth quarter after Lake Park’s Mike Menotti scored on a 3-yard plunge.
But Ullrich and the Falcons replied with a 12-play, 71-yard scoring drive that ended with the senior quarterback’s goal-line dive with 6:23 to play. That narrowed the lead to 23-21.
Lake Park took over at its own 40 after the ensuing kickoff with hopes of running down the clock.
But on the first play, quarterback Joey Albin’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Wheaton North defensive lineman Ryan Koop.
Seven plays later, the Falcons were again knocking on the door.
And on a second-and-4 at the Lancers’ 9-yard line, Ullrich scored on a keeper, then tossed a two-point conversion pass to teammate Dareon Spencer to extend the lead to 29-23 with 2:24 to play.
A last-ditch drive by Lake Park ended at its own 34.
Lake Park (10-2) set the early tone when linebacker Matt Petralia got a hand on an Ullrich punt, then scooped up the loose ball and rambled 44 yards for the score just three minutes into the game.
Less than three minutes later, the Lancers struck again. On a third down and 10 from his own 43, Albin found Menotti on a screen pass and Menotti sprinted 57 yards to boost the score to 14-0.
Wheaton North travels to Stevenson for its semifinal next week.
