Oak Park football pulls away from Grace after halftime

OAK PARK — The Oak Park and Grace offenses traded explosive plays throughout a wild first half that produced a halftime score that looked more like a final score, but the Oak Park defense found its footing after the break and the Eagles pulled away for a 52-26 nonleague win.

“I thought we’d be able to run and throw the ball well, and it turns out we did both very well,” said Oak Park coach Casey Webb, whose team led 35-20 at halftime. “We had a feeling it was going to be a high-scoring game, so we wanted to establish the run game early. The offensive line was blocking well, our receivers were getting open and it was an all-out balanced attack. It was great seeing it all put together.”

Oak Park running back Oliver Gonzalez had nearly 200 yards of offense and two touchdowns in the opening half, and Eagles quarterback Tillman Lovett and wide receiver Ethan Abergel connected for three touchdowns before the intermission, but it wasn’t enough to put the Lancers away.

Grace was efficient in response, needing just 14 plays to score its three first-half touchdowns – the scoring plays covering 30, 74 and 80 yards. The Lancers had five plays that gained 25 yards or more before halftime.

Lancers quarterback Ethan LaSecla was sacked four times in the first half, but he ran for the 30- and 80-yard touchdowns and finished the night with 330 yards of total offense.

“We’re a pretty explosive team,” Grace coach Tom Coate said. “Unfortunately, we could not get the run game going like we hoped. Oak Park is very big up front and just overpowered us. Hats off to Oak Park they have a great football team.”

Oak Park (4-1) held Grace (3-2) to just six points in the second half, those coming on an 80-yard pass from LaSecla to Jayden Foote.

Lovett and Abergel connected on a fourth touchdown pass in the second half, as Lovett finished with 277 passing yards and had a hand in five touchdowns.

Abergel ended his night with six catches for 104 yards and four touchdowns.

“My guys around me just open up the game for me,” Abergel said. “Besides myself, I got to give it to my team for always stepping up. Oliver Gonzalez setting up the run game. Offensive line blocking. Tillman Lovett is my boy. We always joke saying just throw the ball up I’ll catch it. It doesn’t matter where or who gets the ball as long as someone is scoring it doesn’t have to be me.”