AURORA – The Waubonsie Valley football team completed the season sweep of DeKalb with a 28-14 victory Friday night to close out both teams’ 2021 season.
Waubonsie Valley’s senior night was highlighted by two touchdown catches by senior wide receiver Tyler Helbing and a touchdown run by senior running back Jacob Razo. The Warriors ended the 2021 campaign with a 3-6 record.
Waubonsie Valley head coach Tom Baumgartner said it was another hard-fought game between the two schools. The Warriors also defeated DeKalb, 17-10 on Oct. 1.
“I always love playing DeKalb because you know it’s going to be physical,” Baumgartner said. “In a situation where neither team’s playing for a playoff berth, it’s all about having a little more pride. We have a great group of seniors and I’m proud of them.”
The two teams combined for 25 penalty flags with DeKalb leading with 14. DeKalb head coach Derek Schneeman, who saw his team finish 2-7 in his first year with the Barbs, felt penalties summed up their 2021 season.
“I probably sound like a broken record by now, but the bottom line is we’re too undisciplined,” Schneeman said. “That starts with me. We made too many mistakes to win football games against 8A competition.”
DeKalb took 6:30 off the clock on its opening possession before junior Jamari Brown finished the drive with a 20-yard rushing TD. In the second quarter, Waubonsie Valley tied the game with a two-yard TD run by Razo.
After trading rushing touchdowns, the Barbs and Warriors exchanged passing scores before halftime. The Barbs regained the lead on a 9-yard TD catch by senior Toriano Tate.
A trick play on the ensuing kick return netted the Warriors an 88-yard return. Sophomore quarterback Luke Elsea found Helbing for a 12-yard TD pass that tied the game at halftime.
“We’ve been practicing (the kick return) the last five weeks,” Baumgartner said. “It’s a little trickery. It’s Week 9 and we’re having some fun. That really turned the momentum after they scored and got it close.”
On the Warriors’ opening drive of the second half, Elsea connected with Helbing again for a 15-yard TD.
The Barbs held the Warriors in check on their next drive, but a punt by Waubonsie Valley landed right on the heel of a DeKalb returner. The Warriors recovered the ball and regained control inside the 20-yard line.
To close out the third quarter, Warriors senior Ethan Quaye scored a 7-yard TD with a one-handed catch to make the score the eventual final of 28-14.
DeKalb will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
“I told the seniors I loved them and I’ll always be there for them if they need anything,” Schneeman said. “I owe a lot to them for buying into my first year in DeKalb. They always worked hard week in and week out, even wins and losses wise we aren’t where we wanted to be. For the underclassman, it’s about buying in and working extremely hard in the offseason.”