Nov. 01--Warren hasn't used Jalen Powe at quarterback for so long, Curie didn't even realize that option was in the Blue Devils' playbook.
Powe ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns and also threw a touchdown pass -- all after halftime -- to rally Warren to a 42-41 overtime win over Curie on Saturday afternoon at Lane. Warren will host Naperville Central in the Class 8A second round.
"We haven't seen that on film," Curie coach Jay McDonagh said of Powe playing quarterback in the Wildcat formation. "That was a good adjustment by them. He's a tough runner. They ate us up on that, really, in the second half."
The Blue Devils (6-4) trailed 14-7 at halftime, but got an immediate jump start in the third quarter when Powe started playing both ways.
"He's such a dynamic player," Warren coach Bryan McNulty said. "With the football in his hands, he's pretty exciting."
Still, McNulty has been reluctant to use Powe on offense lately, because "he's so important to what we do on defense and the kicking game."
"I am ready for it every game," said Powe, who also plays strong safety. "I'm getting used to it. I can go both ways. I was really happy to get on offense and help my team out."
He did plenty of that, with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Zachary Schultz in the third quarter and a 2-yard TD run with 1:24 left in regulation that tied it at 35. In between, Warren starting quarterback Kyle Debevec threw a pair of TD passes during a wild fourth-quarter flurry that featured touchdowns on three consecutive plays from scrimmage.
Curie (8-2) drove to the Warren 4-yard line after Powe's TD run and set up for a 20-yard field-goal try by Roberto Hernandez. After three straight timeouts, Hernandez's kick was blocked by Jacob Lange and almost returned for a touchdown by Eric Yunker. But Curie's Anthony Watson ran down Yunker and tackled him at the Curie 12, forcing overtime.
Chris Baldwin (171 yards) ran 10 yards for a TD on first down for Curie, but a high snap prevented the Condors from attempting the PAT kick. Then Powe ran twice for Warren, scoring from 6 yards out and setting up Brandon Hergenreder's winning PAT.
"We knew Curie was a good team," McNulty said. "People sleep on these Chicago Public League schools, but they really do a good job. ... (Baldwin) is just a big, thick kid who's a competitive runner, who breaks tackles. I don't know that we've seen as good a back as him all year."
mclark@tribpub.com
Player of the game: Jalen Powe, Warren, 12 carries, 118 yards, 2 TDs; 29-yard TD pass.
Key performers: Warren -- Darrius Crump, 19 carries, 90 yards, TD; Kyle Debevec, 9-for-21 passing, 102 yards, 2 TDs. Curie -- Chris Baldwin, 23 carries, 171 yards, 3 TDs; Mike Goldsmith, 22 carries, 188 yards, TD; Anthony Watson, 7 carries, 117 yards, 2 TDs.
