With the Riverside Brookfield High School football team’s season about to end Friday, seniors Max Strong and Kaleb McCottry left their mark one last time on the final two plays.
On back-to-back Glenbard East rushing attempts, the de fensive standouts delivered tackles for losses of two (Strong) and four yards (McCottry).
Still, it was a bittersweet finish for them and the Bulldogs, whose hopes of a playoff return were thwarted by the 42-19 loss to the visiting Upstate Eight Conference East champions.
“All the way through we believed we could make the season into something we wanted it to be. I think that’s all you can do,” said linebacker Strong. “We just gave it our all. We were banged up [missing three starters Friday]. Obviously, that didn’t help.”
Had the Bulldogs (4-5, 2-4 in UEC East) won five games, they would have advanced to a fifth consecutive IHSA playoff. This year, every team that finished at least 5-4 is part of the 256-team playoff field with one 4-5 qualifier.
“We knew it was win or go home,” said RBHS coach Sam Styler.
“The way they fought the entire time [this season]. I’m happy with the way this senior class came together. Obviously, the season didn’t turn out the way we wanted, but they fought until the very end. We’re going to miss these seniors very much. They laid a great foundation for us so hopefully we keep building on it.”
The week eight loss at West Chicago took its toll. Starting senior lineman Carter Shelby and junior defensive starters Warren Mason and Oscar Aguirre were unable to play Friday after injuries sustained in that game.
The Rams (8-1, 6-0) led 35-0 at halftime and pulled ahead 42-0 with 6:58 left in the third quarter to initiate a running clock.
As Bulldogs embraced and took photos on the field afterwards, there still was plenty to smile about.
Strong later found out that his last-minute play clinched his season goal of 100 total tackles for the season. That included 41 solos, four tackles for loss, five sacks, one fumble recovery and a pick-six interception TD in the season-opening victory over Niles West.
“All of the memories blur together. It’s football,” Strong said. “The sport itself and having the long nights when you get to spend a lot of time with your friends is the greatest memory you can have.”
McCottry finished with four sacks and 10 solos. Other defensive standouts included senior Julian Espinoza (52 tackles), juniors Mason (61 tackles, 28 solos, 3 interceptions), Aguirre (36 tackles), Luke Ferguson (2 sacks, 10 solos, 2 interceptions) and John Evans (11 solos), and sophomores Andrew Olivares (3.5 sacks) and Bryam Rimpila (7 tackles for loss).
A 6-foot-2 defensive end, McCottry recalled starting as an offensive lineman along the 5-9, 175-pound Strong. McCottry also was appreciative he made it through this season.
“I’m always beat up. The running joke on the team is I’m the old man,” McCottry said. “Everything on me hurts – a lot. It’s always something. But I’m blessed and glad I made it through.”
Trailing 42-0, the Bulldogs’ next play from scrimmage was senior receiver Nick Rivera scoring on an electrifying 74–yard pass play over the middle from sophomore quarterback Giancarlo Garcia.
“Rewarding. This was the first time I ever ran [that play],” Rivera said. “I’m not going to lie. I thought I was going to get caught. And then we scored and it felt really good. All my teammates cheered me on and that felt even better.”
After a 48-yard TD pass to junior Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus later in the quarter, Rivera added a 9–yard TD reception in the final two minutes.
“So many [memories], the brotherhood, the bond,” said Rivera, who had three TD catches. “I’ve played basketball, volleyball and football and football has the best bond ever. They’re you’re brothers. I’ve met my best friends.”
This season, Garcia was 107-for-173 passing for 1,468 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 447 yards and seven TDs.
Mrozik-DeJesus caught 36 passes for 592 yards with five TDs. Junior Jacob Retana rushed for 281 yards with three TDs. Junior Jayden Karas and Mason also scored three TDs. Junior John Bielobradek kicked five field goals.
“I wish all the best of luck for all of those [underclassmen]. I hope they realize their full potential and they get where they want to go,” Strong said.
