Boylan returns two Sycamore fumbles for scores to reach semifinals

ROCKFORD – Sycamore’s offense ran the final 35 plays in a Class 5A quarterfinal Saturday against Boylan, outgained the Titans by 200 yards in the second half, and held them to three three-and-outs in the third quarter and no possessions in the fourth.

But Boylan linebacker Xavier Bryant returned two long fumbles for touchdowns in the fourth quarter and the Titans came away with a 19-16 win, ending the Spartans season.

“Our defense played outstanding. And I thought our offense played outstanding,” Sycamore coach Joe Ryan said. “But the turnovers, they pick them up and they take them for six. I’ve never seen it before and I wish I wouldn’t have seen it today.”

The Spartans led 16-7 at the start of the fourth and had a second-and-6 at the Titans’ 7-yard line. Kyle Antos – who had two touchdowns already – fumbled his carry. Bryant scooped it up and returned it to cut the Sycamore lead to 16-13 with 11:43 left.

“I saw I had a little room so I went for it,” Bryant said. “I knew I had to give us at least a chance to score. Most people when they go for a scoop they just fall on it, but I knew I had to give us a chance.”

But the Spartans (10-2) ran a 16-play drive and were facing a fourth-and-2 on the Titans’ 29-yard line with 2:19 left. Manny Dominguez ran the ball and fumbled. The ball bounced around, off a Titans defender and a Spartans player and eventually to Bryant, who picked it up and ran it back to give the Titans their first lead since 7-0 after their first offensive possession.

Starting their final drive with 1:56 left, the Spartans reached the Titans’ (12-0) 26 with 12 seconds left when quarterback Grant McConkey stumbled through the middle, but collected his footing, broke a couple tackles and took the ball to the 6 with two seconds left.

But his field goal attempt to tie the game was blocked by Dayvion Foreman as time expired, sending the Titans into the semifinals Saturday at St. Rita.

“It says we have heart, and we’re never going to give up in life or in football,” Antos said. “Coach Ryan played a big role in that, teaching us to bow our necks a little bit when it comes to life and everything. It kind of shows our character.”

Boylan’s final offensive drive started with 5:32 left in the third quarter. It was their third and final three-and-out of the half.

“It’s hard,” Antos said. “We’ve worked so hard to get ourselves to this point. We’re just proud of our guys for working so hard in the offseason and stuff like that. Now it’s time for the other guys to step up and do their thing, too.”

The Spartans lost three fumbles in the game – the first came on their first possession when De’Shaun Harris lost control of the ball and it was returned by Chase Dixon, and with the aid of a penalty, to the Sycamore 12. Quarterback John Starck fumbled that drive but recovered it, then on the next play, Foreman took off on a 22-yard scoring run.

It was one of only two plays of at least 20 yards for the Titans and their longest of the game. They finished with 98 yards of total offense to Sycamore’s 357.

“We’ve been a team our whole lives, so if we’re going to lose we’re going to lose as a team,” Sycamore linebacker Preston Ruud said. “The game played out like it did. You can’t do anything about it now. You’ve got to move forward.”

McConkey hit a 23-yard field foal in the second quarter to cut the lead to 7-3. The Spartans took the lead when McConkey found Antos for a 12-yard pass. Then the Spartans forced a three-and-out and got the ball to the Titans’ 8 thanks to a shanked punt and a double penalty. Antos took the first play in for a score and a 16-7 lead.

“We kept responding,” Ryan said. “Think about it. Then we drove again [after the first fumble] and had another fumble and they scored again. And then we’re behind three and we still have a game-tying kick. These kids have responded all year. They just keep responding. It just didn’t go our way.”

Two years ago, the Spartans had a streak of eight straight playoff berths snapped.

But for the past two years, the Spartans have not only made the playoffs but reached at least the second round.

“Last year we got the team to back where it was after missing the playoffs,” Ruud said. “This year we went further than we did last year. We’re making strides and that’s all you can ask for.”