Football Advances to 5A Quarterfinals

Every so often in the world of sports, an opportunity presents itself for a team to make amends for past failings. The Sterling Golden Warriors were given such an opportunity in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs, as they squared off with the Rochelle Hubs last Saturday.

As every Golden Warrior fan knows, the Hubs came to Roscoe Eades Stadium in the first round of the 2005 playoffs and shocked undefeated and top-seeded Sterling with a 9-6 victory. The Rochelle win ended prematurely what many thought would be a long playoff run for the Golden Warriors.

As fate would have it, Rochelle pulled another first round shocker this year by defeating unbeaten and top-seeded Geneseo 14-0 to set up a second round match-up with Sterling, a 41-0 winner over Chicago King in round 1. This year’s contest took place at Helms Field in Rochelle and lived up to the expectations of fans who expected a hard-nosed, physical game.

The Golden Warriors started strong, forcing Rochelle into a “three and out” on their first possession. Sterling QB Cory Renner then led his team on a snappy seven-play, 55-yard drive that ended with a perfectly thrown TD pass to Michael Trobaugh from 30 yards out. The PAT by Raciel Ocampo put Sterling ahead 7-0 with 6:35 left in the 1st quarter.

The stingy Sterling defense, led by Sheldon Hubbard and Colt Preston, would force Rochelle to punt again after just three plays on their next possession, but the offense could not capitalize. A Sterling fumble near mid-field gave the Hubs excellent field position. Rochelle took full advantage of the miscue as Alex Prough hit a wide-open Jeff Ruppenthal for a 22-yard TD to start the 2nd period. The PAT was no good and Sterling held a 7-6 lead.

The Golden Warriors would maintain their slim lead at halftime, as neither team could get anything going offensively in the 2nd period. Sterling punted three teams and Rochelle turned the ball over on downs twice in the quarter.

The first four minutes of the 3rd quarter would prove to be the difference in the game. Sterling received the kickoff to start the second half and began their drive at their own 31-yard line. The Golden Warriors, faced with a 3rd and 8 early in the drive, converted a big first down as Renner and Trobaugh hooked up again for a 25 yard gain into Rochelle territory. Renner then hit Aaron Cooksey for an 11 yard gain, giving the Golden Warriors a first down at the Rochelle 30 yard line. Two plays later, Renner called his own number on an option keeper and scampered 25 yards for a touchdown. Ocampo’s PAT put Sterling up 14-6 with 8:33 left to play in the quarter.

The Sterling fans were just getting settled back into their seats when the Golden Warriors hit Rochelle with a hammer. On the Hubs’ first play of the second half, Preston popped Rochelle’s Rosendo Garcia and forced a fumble. Sterling’s Adam Osterhouse pounced on the loose ball at the 19 yard line. Renner then took the first down snap and raced into the end zone, giving the Golden Warriors a commanding lead and sending the Sterling fans into a state of delirium. Ocampo’s PAT made it 21-6 with 8:21 left in the 3rd.

Rochelle responded with a long drive that culminated with a 38-yard field goal by John Gonzalez with 3:33 left to play in the 3rd, making the score 21-9 in favor of Sterling.

Neither team would threaten to score for most of the 4th quarter, until Sterling took over with 5:21 left to play at the Rochelle 34-yard line. Codtey Albright would eventually put the final nail in the Hubs’ coffin, with a three-yard TD run late in the game. Ocampo added the PAT for the final point of a 28-9 Golden Warrior victory.

Renner was the offensive star of the game, rushing for 66 yards and 2 TDs on 9 carries. He was also 4 for 4 passing for 75 yards and a TD. Troubaugh caught two passes for 55 yards and a score.

With the win, the Golden Warriors improved to 9-2 on the season and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Class 5A playoffs for the first time since 1999. Sterling will travel to Maple Park Kaneland (10-1) on Saturday night for a quarterfinal match-up with the Knights.

Sterling Vs. Rochelle Boxscore