Oct. 31--Oak Park cared not for glamour in Round 1.
The host Huskies both survived and advanced, knocking off frisky Fremd 26-17 in Friday's Class 8A playoff opener. This despite nine punts and two special-teams turnovers from the victors.
It wasn't pretty, but the Huskies will take it. And they'll play Palatine or Sandburg in the second round.
"I think our kids are well aware of what we need to do better," Oak Park coach John Hoerster said. "It wasn't that we don't have good players, it wasn't that we were outcoached. There were just a few strange things we're going to identify on film, and we're going to make those plays next time."
Fremd scored 17 points, but 14 of those came from special-teams mistakes by Oak Park. A kickoff that wasn't fielded to open the second half -- "a ball that couldn't have been kicked better, that our kid just misjudged," Hoerster said -- which Fremd recovered on Oak Park's 4-yard-line. Four plays later, The Vikings scored on a fake field goal. Add a fumbled punt return early in the first quarter, and the formula for Fremd keeping it close was clear.
Oak Park quarterback Keegan Smith took the reins from junior Jeremy Hunt, who won the job in the preseason, after Hunt injured his ankle in Week 7 against Glenbard West. In the three games the senior has started -- including two regular-season wins against Lyons and Hinsdale Central, both playoff teams -- the Huskies have averaged 33 points per game.
Smith accounted for three touchdowns in this one, including one rushing, the biggest of which was a strike to 6-foot-4 junior Eddie Gorens for 65 yards halfway through the third quarter. The junior was alone up the seam, Smith found him, and the Huskies regained a lead they'd never give back.
"I feel comfortable now," Smith said. "I feel like the guys around me, just because we've played together for so long -- I've been playing with some of these guys for seven years -- just to have the team back together, I think it adds a different kind of spark to us."
Fremd defensive back Kenney Lyke didn't play in the second half. The two-way player, a Michigan State recruit, stalked the sideline brandishing a small brace on his right foot.
Oak Park's defense held Fremd quarterback Justin Castillo to 10-for-38 passing (26.3 percent), but he did throw two TD passes.
"These guys, they're learning that this is the playoffs, and people are going to throw the kitchen sink at you," Hoerster said. "You've got to make sure your head's on a swivel, and you've got to make sure you're ready for the unexpected."
rmayor@tribpub.com
Player of the game: Keegan Smith, Oak Park, 210 passing yards, 2 TDs; 1 rushing TD.
Key performers: Oak Park -- Jamarri Watson, 105 rushing yards, 33 receiving yards; Eddie Gorens, 3 receptions, 85 yards, 2 TD; Ryan Molina Sean Woods, INTs. Fremd -- Justin Castillo, 2 TD passes.
