The three biggest plays of the game–and quarterback Sean Price was an accomplice on two and a spectator on the third.
That tells you how scary good Maine South was Saturday in a 29-13 road victory over Wheaton Warrenville South in the Class 8A semifinals. The 8A runner-up with a 13-0 record returns to Champaign for next Saturday’s title game against Downers Grove North (11-2).
Big play No. 1 occurred late in the first half with Wheaton South ahead 13-6 courtesy of a 10-yard touchdown pass from Dan Burns to tight end Anthony Moeaki and a Dan Dierking 1-yard TD run set up by Moeaki’s 32-yard catch.
Price connected with Jake Bachmeier on a 5-yard pass, and as Bachmeier fought for extra yardage, Wheaton’s Bryan Hancock knocked the football loose–right into the stomach of receiver Tyler Knight.
“It popped right into my hands, and I just took off,” said Knight, who raced 64 yards for the opportune touchdown.
Big play No. 2 came early in the fourth quarter after Knight’s 22-yard field goal had provided a 15-13 lead. On a play that covered 54 yards, Adam Fee caught a Price pass at the Wheaton 15-yard line.
That’s when he broke the first tackle. At the 10, a second Tigers defender tried to upend the 6-foot-3-inch, 191-pound junior who mostly plays defensive end. Fee dragged him 10 yards into the end zone for a 22-13 lead. Price was 19 of 26 for 300 yards and two TDs.
“I was in to block, but Sean changed the play and made me a receiver,” Fee said. “I could feel that play giving our team a big emotional lift.”
Big play No. 3 may have saved the game. Wheaton South (10-3) needed a big play of its own in the fourth quarter, and 6-6 Matt Stevens came through with a 63-yard catch.
The Toledo recruit was on his way to six points when 5-9 Lewis Borsellino dragged him down at the 14. Four plays later, Tom Sarlina missed a 31-yard field goal.
“We’re going back to Champaign, but we’re not finished yet,” Borsellino said.
Wheaton coach Ron Muhitch lauded the performances of Maine South defensive tackles Tony Colletti (6-3, 267) and Stefan Zecevic (6-0, 245). They won the battle in the trenches against Wheaton’s 6-6, 305-pound Dace Richardson and 6-5, 320-pound Mike Smith.
