Sullivan Outlasted By Roosevelt In District Semifinal

Sullivan and Roosevelt swapped the lead five times Saturday, but the Roughriders were able to make the final one count in a wild 40-33 victory in the Class 3 District 2 semifinal.

The Eagles (6-5) ended the season with their first winning campaign since 2013 and were just a quarter away from upending top-seeded Roosevelt for a spot in the district championship game.

But a devastating stretch late in the third quarter and early fourth quarter spoiled Sullivan’s chances of victory.

Up 33-30 with a minute left in the third, the Eagles had a high snap sail into the end zone for a safety.

Roosevelt took the two points and possession, then cashed in with a 47-yard touchdown run by Dajavion Mitchel with 10:46 left in the game. The Roughriders took a 38-33 lead following a missed two-point conversion.

Sullivan fumbled the ball on the next drive and though the defense made a stand on fourth-and-goal, the offense was unable to take advantage. Another high snap gave Roosevelt another safety with 5:18 remaining.

The Eagles would get the ball back at the Roosevelt 42 with 1:42 to play, but were unable to score.

The offense plowed through Roosevelt for three quarters, led by Ethan Krygiel and Kristian Harms.

Krygiel ran for 220 yards and all five of Sullivan’s touchdowns, while Harms amassed 108 yards on just 13 attempts.

Sullivan steamrolled Roosevelt for 350 yards on the ground.

However, Roosevelt’s offense was just as potent. Sophomore quarterback Alonzo Smith ran for a 5-yard touchdown a little more than three minutes into the first quarter, capped off by Ali Hall’s two-point run.

Krygiel scored on a 6-yard touchdown run three minutes later, but the kick failed and Sullivan trailed 8-6.

Smith hooked up with Hall for a 35-yard touchdown pass just 55 seconds later to expand Roosevelt’s lead to 16-6.

Krygiel would make an interception late in the first quarter to give the Eagles their first defensive stand. On a fourth-and-1 from the Roosevelt 21, quarterback Levi Hurt ran for three yards. Two plays later, Krygiel punched it in from five yards out.

Sullivan quickly got the ball back and boosted by a 27-yard run from Harms, Krygiel found the end zone on an 18-yard rush to give the Eagles a 20-16 lead with 4:01 left in the half.

Hall would put Roosevelt back on top with an 18-yard touchdown run with 2:21 remaining. Smith’s two-point run sent the Roughriders into the half with a 24-20 lead.

Roosevelt needed less than a minute to push their lead back to two scores when Deablo McGee ran for a 22-yard touchdown.

But the Roughriders couldn’t contain Krygiel, who scored on a 70-yard touchdown run, then added a 6-yard score to put the Eagles on top 33-30.

Lucas Glaser intercepted Smith on the next series to give Sullivan an opportunity to pull away. 

Roosevelt would go on to stop Sullivan on their next two drives, which led to the first of two safeties. 

After Mitchel put the Roughriders on top, Marquise Taylor recovered a fumble to thwart Sullivan’s offense.