Tre’Sean Hall lost his footing on the play, but his strip and fumble recovery just before halftime put T.F. South on solid ground Friday night against Reavis.
“All I saw was the ball,” Hall said. “I was losing my edge a little bit, but I hit it out and it popped right to me. I felt like that was the biggest play. It stopped all their momentum and gave it to us.”
Hall’s takeaway sparked a 14–0 flurry in the final 3:45 of the second quarter as T.F. South went on to drop Reavis 34–14 in a South Suburban crossover.
South took a 13–7 lead after Cody Petrich hit Lester Wilson for a 20-yard touchdown on fourth-and-8. Hall followed with his fumble recovery on the next play from scrimmage, giving the Rebels possession at the Reavis 29-yard line.
Sterling Smith scored on a 5-yard run six plays later. Torian Lewis broke a tackle and plowed in the ensuing 2-point conversion for a 21–7 lead.
Lewis ran for 117 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, with many of those coming out of the Wildcat formation. Sterling added 89 yards on 18 carries.
T.F South (6–2) has now won five consecutive games after being shutout by Lemont in Week 3. Reavis (6–2) fell for the second straight week.
“People were looking down on us and they didn’t think we’d come back,” Lewis said. “But we’ve got a humble group of guys. Even after a win, we don’t get too big-headed. I love this team.”
Reavis owned a 7–0 lead after quarterback Isiah Alpuche scored from two yards out on the opening drive, but the Rams were largely ineffective moving forward.
“That gave us a wide awakening,” Hall said. “That touchdown opened our eyes and then we shut them down.”
Alpuche posted 80 yards on nine carries. Calvin Jordan had 84 yards and a touchdown on 16 totes for the Rams.
“We’re a good football team,” Reavis coach Tim Zasada said, “and they’re obviously a couple steps above us right now.”
“While I appreciate all the great things and accolades, (Friday) I was terrible. (T.F. South coach) Tom Padjen was way better than me. … I hope I can see him again in the playoffs and give him a better game.”
Petrich finished 7-for-10 for 146 yards and two touchdowns, the second coming on a 64-yard bomb to a wide-open Jerome Barker for a 28–7 lead midway through the third quarter.
“Physically we’ve improved,” Padjen said. “Our offensive line has improved dramatically.”
Marshon Harris added two interceptions for the Rebels.
