Homewood-Flossmoor cruises past Stagg

Homewood-Flossmoor thinks it’s primed for a deep postseason run.

With the playoffs looming next week, though, the Vikings weren’t looking past Stagg in Friday night’s regular-season finale.

“We’ve learned throughout the season that you can’t overlook anyone or take anything for granted,” H-F quarterback Bryce Gray said. “Anybody can win. We wanted to come out and get the win, keep everybody healthy and great ready for next week.”

Gray threw two touchdown passes in the first half and each Harley-Hampton twin, Deante and Devonte, added two touchdown runs before the break as No. 10 H-F rolled to a 48-0 win in a SouthWest Suburban Blue game in Flossmoor.

The Vikings (7-2, 6-1) had their usual explosiveness, piling up 512 yards of offense on 41 plays (12.5 yards per play) – including 370 yards on 28 first-half plays – while holding Stagg (3-6, 1-6) to 182 yards.

H-F scored on its first seven drives, starting with a 51-yard touchdown run from Devonte Harley-Hampton on the second play from scrimmage. The only H-F drive that didn’t end in a touchdown is when the Vikings kneeled down in the game’s final moments.

Devonte and Deante traded touchdowns all night, Deante capping a 95-yard drive with a four-yard scoring burst to make it 14-0.

Deante (eight carries, 138 yards) added a 77-yard jaunt to pay dirt later in the first half.

“We executed all our plays,” Deante said. “We made adjustments and got a lot of people involved.”

Gray got in on the big plays as well, hitting Kendric Pryor (3 catches, 109 yards) for a 15-yard touchdown and a 78-yard pass that set up Devonte Harley-Hampton’s 8-yard scoring run.

Gray, who finished 9-for-15 for 173 yards, all in the first half, also threw a four-yard touchdown to James Sheehan.

Backup quarterback Trevor Johnson added a 79-yard touchdown run for the Vikings.

“We wanted to go into the playoffs on a good note,” Deante Harley-Hampton said. “We’re really hungry. We want those championship rings.”

Christian Langston had an interception and Eric Bey a fumble recovery for H-F.

Josh Sterling led the Chargers with 17 carries for 126 yards. Joe Van Nieuwenhuyse ran for 22 yards and threw for 13.

H-F will now get ready for the postseason and a chance to make up for early losses in the playoffs the last seasons. The Vikings were upset by eventual Class 8A state champion Naperville Central in the second round last year and fell to O’Fallon in the first round in 2012.

“Being in the locker room the last two years after the seniors played their last games ever, those were the worst feelings ever,” Gray said. “We never want to feel that again. We want to make a run and win a state championship.”