PARK RIDGE – Kyle Bratcher and Park Ridge went out in style.
The Owls scored on a trick play touchdown and executed some impeccable defense, topping Hasbrouck Heights, 14-0, on Friday in the North 1, Group 1 final.
“This was our goal since Day 1,” Bratcher said. “It wasn’t just to get to this game. It was to win it. To come out and complete that goal, it couldn’t feel better. I love this group of kids. I’ve been playing with them my whole life.”
In a strange twist of fate, the pass that will go down in Owls lore was completed by their No. 1 receiver. It came near the end of the first half with the game still scoreless.
Bratcher caught a lateral from quarterback Cole Hughes and sent a long throw to the endzone into double coverage. Somehow the ball landed between two Aviator defenders before getting hauled in by Bryan Martel for a 33-yard touchdown.
“Against a team you face three times, you have to pull out some tricks and have something in your back pocket,” coach Tom Curry IV said. “We felt that the look (Hasbrouck Heights) gave us went with that. Bratcher threw a great ball and Martel made one heck of a catch in the back of the endzone. Just a tremendous effort overall.”
