For much of John Hoerster’s tenure as head coach, the Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity football team has had an effective offense that helped ensure competitiveness against its West Suburban Silver opponents.
However, moving the ball and scoring points this year has been a challenge for the Huskies, who have scored just two touchdowns during their current three-game losing streak. Friday night against Lyons Township, OPRF didn’t complete a pass until the fourth quarter and was held to less than 100 yards of total offense in a 32-6 loss at Oak Park Stadium.
“It’s the story of our season,” said Hoerster. “We just couldn’t get the chains moving and kept our defense on the field, and after a while, those guys get worn down. We’re playing guys both ways and they’re on the field so much. We can’t sustain drives on offense, and eventually [opponents] are going to either spring [a big play] or get a long drive and the momentum. It’s really hard to stop the boulder when it’s rolling downhill.”
In front of a large Homecoming crowd, things began promisingly for OPRF (2-5, 1-4 WSC Silver) as the offense moved the ball into LT territory. But the drive ended with Liam Brown throwing an interception to Anthony Pearson at the LT 30.
On the Lions’ first play, EJ Kuhlman fumbled, and the ball was recovered by OPRF’s Niko Vielehr on the LT 42. But two plays later, Pearson again picked off Brown, and the Huskies would remain inside their own territory throughout the remainder of the half.
LT (5-2, 2-2) marched deep into OPRF territory, but the drive stalled, and the Lions settled for a 36-yard field goal from Ryland Avants and a 3-0 lead after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, LT quarterback Jack Slightom found Brady Rusk for a 9-yard touchdown, then Avants connected from 24 yards out as the Lions took a 13-0 lead at the half.
“It was great we were able to hold them to a field goal,” Hoerster said. “But what you really hope for is to get a stop and good field position for the offense. Then maybe they create something, we score, and it’s a different ballgame. But LT drove down and scored.”
Slightom threw his second touchdown pass, 21 yards to Grant Smith, to give LT a 19-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, OPRF’s Chris Crape faked a handoff and scampered 68 yards down the left sideline to set up first and goal at the LT 8. On fourth down from the two-yard line, Liam Smith (11 carries, 44 yards) went in for the score.
“The end zone hasn’t been a familiar place for us, so we felt good,” Hoerster said.
The two-point conversion pass failed, but the Huskies were feeling optimistic about staging a rally. However, any hopes of that materializing were dashed when the Lions marched 80 yards on the next possession, with Kuhlman (24 carries, 162 yards) taking it to the house from 43 yards out.
“As soon as you feel like you get a little momentum, [LT] stops it,” Hoerster said. “It was tough. LT’s a good team, Coach [Jon] Beutjer does a great job over there.”
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Slightom (10-of-14, 199 yards, three touchdowns) hit Smith again for a 26-yard score to ice things for the Lions.
With OPRF virtually eliminated from state playoff contention, Hoerster would like to end the season on a positive note.
“We’ll get back in the lab and work,” he said, “with a renewed focus and understand we’ve got two weeks of football left. You don’t get to play high school football all your life, so enjoy every day you get a chance to do it.”
OPRF hosts Addison Trail for Senior Night, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
Fenwick 48, Benet 7
The Friars (6-1) officially clinched a state playoff berth with a 48-7 rout of Benet Academy Friday night at Triton College.
Jake Thies and Tommy Thies each had two rushing touchdowns. Jamen Williams threw for 210 yards and a touchdown, Will Tomczak had six catches for 82 yards, and Raphiel Stewart caught six passes for 73 yards for Fenwick, which faces Mount Carmel in Chicago at 7 p.m., Oct. 17.