Riverside-Brookfield Stuns Glenbard South with Late Comeback

Riverside-Brookfield secured a thrilling victory over Glenbard South on October 6, 2023, rallying from behind to win 21-17. With under five minutes remaining and trailing by three points, Riverside-Brookfield needed a pivotal moment. Junior quarterback Braeden Novak connected with wide receiver Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus for a 30-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the deficit to 17-14.

After the touchdown, Riverside-Brookfield’s John Bielobradek executed a squib kick that would prove crucial. Junior Bryan Rimpila delivered a significant hit on the opposing return team, forcing a fumble that Bielobradek recovered. This set up Riverside-Brookfield for another scoring opportunity.

Novak then threw a decisive pass over the middle to Jayden Karas, who secured the ball and crossed the goal line for the touchdown that gave Riverside-Brookfield a 21-17 lead. The win kept their record unblemished at 6-0, including a 3-0 mark in the Upstate Eight Conference East Division. Mrozik-DeJesus celebrated the victory with Karas, highlighting the bond between teammates.

“This is my guy,” Mrozik-DeJesus said. “I’ve known this kid since kindergarten. I’ve had his back, he’s had mine. To see it on a football field, it’s something different.”

Karas echoed those sentiments, expressing his joy at the win. “I’m spending it with the people I absolutely love, and scoring that last touchdown to put us ahead felt absolutely great,” he said.

Despite both teams entering the game with high-scoring expectations, defense dominated the early stages. The first half saw only one touchdown, a 40-yard connection between Novak and Mrozik-DeJesus just before halftime.

In the second half, Glenbard South seized momentum with two rushing touchdowns from sophomore tailback Elijah Donahue, giving them a 14-7 lead. Donahue played valiantly, carrying the ball 24 times for 113 yards and two scores, while also contributing an interception on defense.

As Glenbard South threatened to extend their lead, Riverside-Brookfield’s senior safety Warren Mason made a pivotal play. He disrupted a potential score, stopping the ball carrier for a loss and forcing a turnover. “I just saw it,” Mason recounted. “It was slow motion. On the first one, my guy went and blocked which meant I had the edge. I hit him. It was perfect.”

Mason’s leadership proved invaluable as he rallied his teammates throughout the game.

Following their second loss of the season, Glenbard South coach Ryan Crissey acknowledged the need for improvement. “We made too many mistakes,” he stated. “The nice thing was we were able to establish a successful run game against a really stout defense. In the end, we’ve got to take care of the football.”

The Raiders, now 4-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play, will look to rebound in their upcoming home game against Ridgewood. Meanwhile, Riverside-Brookfield aims to maintain their perfect record as they continue their season.