Ryan McGrath is listed as Glenbrook South’s quarterback. But the junior might as well be designated as the team’s efficiency expert.
In the opening round of the Class 8A state football playoffs Friday, McGrath threw 10 passes and completed six for 204 yards in a 31-14 victory over visiting Glenbard North.
Three of his passes went for more than 40 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sean Progar with 9 minutes 40 seconds left in the third quarter that gave the Titans (8-2) a 22-14 lead.
Efficient? McGrath entered with a 121.4 passer rating.
“Our coaches are doing a great job and saw they weren’t covering our tight end,” said McGrath, who also scored on a 5-yard run. “We figured we could beat them deep, and it just worked to perfection.”
Tommy Gochis, a 5-11, 236-pound rock, had 25 carries for 97 yards and two 1-yard TD runs to help send the seventh-seeded Titans into the second round against York.
Glenbard (6-4) took a 14-7 lead on two Dan Matkovic TD passes–to Jim Montgomery for 9 yards and Matt Ng for 35.
Glenbrook South came back with 2:15 left in the first half on McGrath’s scoring run. That was set up by a 51-yard pass play to Benjamin Cosic. Then Alexander Ross’ 27-yard field goal with 9.2 seconds left in the first half gave the Titans a 16-14 lead.
McGrath found the 6-4, 236-pound Progar for his touchdown catch on the Titans’ second play from scrimmage in the second half. Gochis’ second touchdown gave Glenbrook South a 29-14 lead. The big play of the 63-yard drive was McGrath’s 41-yard pass to Cosic.
Progar also combined with August Ganchiff to sack Matkovic for an 11-yard loss that put the Panthers on their own 5 late in the fourth quarter. On the next play, Devin Henderson tackled Matkovic for a safety and 31-14 lead.
“Our whole goal is to go further than last year,” McGrath said. “We want to give our school something to remember. We want to make history.”
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asutton@tribune.com
