Bolingbrook clinches playoff spot behind Isaac Lane’s big game

Isaac Lane made sure there was no doubt for Bolingbrook.

The senior tailback ran for four touchdowns as the Raiders locked up a playoff position with a 41-0 victory over Sandburg in a SouthWest Suburban Blue matchup on Friday night in Bolingbrook.

With the win the Raiders (6-3, 5-2) secured a postseason spot for the 23rd consecutive year. On the other side, Sandburg (4-5, 3-4) saw its streak of six straight playoff berths snapped. It’s only the fifth time in the past 31 seasons that the Eagles will miss the playoffs.

Lane, who is listed on the roster as a defensive back, had run the ball all season. But never like this, as he finished with 22 carries for 266 yards.

“Usually I just come in for certain packages, but I got the start this game,” Lane said. “I’ve scored touchdowns before, but never four in a game. The offensive line just did a great job.

“We just had to move on [from the previous weeks loss to Lincoln-Way East] and we needed this momentum for the playoffs.”

Lane scored a trio of touchdowns in the first quarter alone. Those came on runs of 18, four and two yards.

Sandburg had its best scoring opportunity in the first quarter. Following Lane’s first TD, the Eagles had two big pass plays from quarterback Alec Fidan (4-of-10, 74 yards), including a 25-yard completion to Lavelle Johnson to reach the Bolingbrook 21. But Sandburg fumbled on the next play at the 19 and linebacker Julian Huff recovered for the Raiders.

Huff and Armani McNulty each had two sacks as Bolingbrook registered six sacks in the game.

“I couldn’t do it without the defensive line,” Huff said. “We just wanted to come out and create some momentum for the playoffs. We know we can play better than we have. We just have to go out hard this next week.”

Tuf Borland barreled in from a yard out a minute into the second quarter to put Bolingbrook ahead 28-0. Adam Klein added field goals of 27 and 40 yards as the Raiders scored on all six first half possessions and led 34-0 at halftime. At quarterback, Klein finished 6-of-10 for 85 yards.

Bolingbrook outgained the Eagles 351 to 45 in the first half, including 271 to minus-29 on the ground. Lane capped off his night on a 12-yard TD scamper with 3:08 left in the third quarter. The Raiders finished with a total yard advantage of 438 to 98.

“I was surprised by the way the game went,” Sandburg coach Dave Wierzal said. “It’s not what myself or my staff envisioned. But Bolingbrook is a very good football team and they put it all together against us.”