HINSDALE — Oak Park-River Forest’s offense was as stagnant as pond water Friday night against Hinsdale Central.
The Huskies’ high-powered attack accumulated just 141 yards and no points in the first three quarters. That’s when cornerback Dallis Flowers took things into his own hands.
The senior picked off Hinsdale Central quarterback Matt Rafferty and returned the interception 24 yards to the Red Devils’ 22-yard line. Five plays later, OPRF quarterback Lloyd Yates punched it in.
Despite the Huskies’ 21-17 loss, Flowers helped wake up OPRF from its slumber. OPRF (6-2, 4-2) scored 17 points and gained 153 yards in the fourth quarter as the game featured four lead changes in the final 3:27.
“The offense wasn’t doing really well and as a cornerback we tried to get a score of our own,” Flowers said. “The receiver was running a slant and I just jumped in front of him and got the pick. I tried to get in the end zone but I only made it [24] yards.”
The Huskies brought the WSC Silver’s most explosive offense into the game, so they were surprised by their difficulties at putting points on Hinsdale Central (6-2, 4-1). Flowers took care of that.
“That was huge,” quarterback Yates said. “We started slow and I don’t know why. It’s not like us but we were definitely looking for a big play to happen and it’s awesome that Dallis and the defense could step up like that for us.”
“We needed a spark and Dallis provided that,” Huskies’ head coach John Hoerster said. “I was proud of that effort he had. It was a big play and we needed it.”
Flowers was a back-up to Jamal Baggett and Xavier Rowe last season but he received plenty of playing time. He’s thrilled to have the opportunity to start this season.
“I was pretty excited and it showed that the coaches trusted in me,” Flowers said. “I just have to keeping make plays for the team.”
“He gives us some great playmaking ability in the secondary,” Hoerster said. “He’s an exciting player that teams don’t want to kick to on kickoff return. We spot-play him a bit on offense and maybe we could do that a little bit more.”
It’s no surprise that Flowers is all in favor of that plan.
“I would like to be more involved on offense,” he said. “I think I can bring a lot to the offense on quick slants and screens because I’m pretty fast and athletic.”
The Huskies will have a final tune-up for the playoffs Friday at home in a West Suburban crossover against Morton (2-6), but Flowers isn’t looking past the Mustangs.
“We just have to come out hard and play them like they’re Glenbard West,” Flowers said. “Any team can come out and have a big game so we have to be focused.
“We’re going to take it one game at a time but we want to try to win a state championship.”
