Tigers wrap up bid to playoffs

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CRYSTAL LAKE – The temperature at the start of the game was only 44 degrees, yet the weather did little to cool off the playoff-bound Crystal Lake Central Tigers during a 34-13 Fox Valley Conference Fox Division win against Johnsburg on Friday.

The host Tigers (6-2 overall, 2-2 FVC Fox) punched their ticket to the IHSA postseason by doing what they have done best all season long – running the football.

“It’s exciting,” Central coach Jon McLaughlin said. “This is the second time in three years we’ve made the playoffs.”

Despite two fumbles by Tigers quarterback Connor Buxton, an interception and another fumble during a handoff, the Skyhawks could not take advantage.

The tempo of the game was set by Central running backs Anthony Niemo and Adam Smyth.

Niemo had a eight carries for 51 yards at halftime, while Smyth also was a workhorse, rushing 17 times for 92 yards.

More importantly, it kept the clock moving and the ball out of the hands of the Skyhawks’ offense. Johnsburg (3-5, 2-2) had tallied a combined 100 points during its past two contests.

Johnsburg kept the game within a touchdown at 13-6 until late in the second quarter, when the Tigers converted a fourth-and-15 play that led to a 6-yard scramble by Buxton for a touchdown. He struck a second time later in the second quarter, rushing for his second touchdown of the night, this time from 9 yards out with 1:15 left in the half.

“That was a turning point, when they converted that fourth-and-15 before halftime,” Johnsburg coach Todd Winter said.

After a scoreless third quarter, Johnsburg cut the deficit to 14 when receiver C.J. Fiedorowicz caught a 7-yard pass with just under 10 minutes to go in the game, but came no closer.

The Tigers then put the game on ice with 2:04 to go, when junior Dallas Bogle picked up a fumble among a group of black and white jerseys and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown. It was his first ever.

“I’m just so excited,” a smiling Bogle said. “I’ve never run a touchdown back before. It was awesome with all my teammates running up and congratulating me.”

The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by Fiedorowicz and recovered by the Tigers, who then ran the clock out to end the game.

Winter was disappointed after the loss, yet proud of his team’s work ethic, even though it ended the Skyhawks’ chance of a playoff berth.

“We didn’t get out of the gate well tonight and that hurt,” Winter said. “These kids never quit playing, though.

“Some other teams would have given up when they fell behind like this.”