Lamar Osterhues Powers Barrington to 35-21 Victory Over Hersey

Barrington’s sophomore running back Lamar Osterhues delivered a stellar performance, rushing for 205 yards and scoring three touchdowns in the Broncos’ 35-21 victory over the Hersey Huskies on September 15, 2023. This win marked Barrington’s second consecutive victory of the season, improving their record to 2-0.

Osterhues, who gained valuable experience as a freshman in last year’s state playoff games, showcased his skills by carrying the ball 22 times. He credited his success to the offensive line, stating, “The credit goes to my offensive line. If I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t have all those runs.” His coach, Joey Sanchez, praised Osterhues, saying, “He is a special one. The best part about him is that he knows he is one of 11. He is going to do his part to make sure that the team is successful.”

Team Effort Drives Barrington’s Offense

The Broncos’ offensive line, featuring players such as Northwestern-bound Owen Fors, Malcolm George, Ben Knuth, Nick Rivera, and Jack Kavanagh, played a crucial role in the team’s performance. Barrington amassed a total of 501 yards of offense, with an impressive 280 yards coming in the first half alone. Fors emphasized the collective effort, stating, “It all starts on Monday when we are hitting the sleds. That is just a whole team effort. Our running backs, we make gaps for them, so they can cut up field and score.”

Barrington quickly established a lead, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter. Osterhues opened the scoring with a 52-yard run on the Broncos’ first series. Shortly thereafter, quarterback Luke Tepas connected with Owen Cook for a 73-yard touchdown pass, putting Barrington ahead 14-0. Hersey responded with a touchdown of their own in the second quarter, as Cheydon Georgacakis rushed for a 10-yard touchdown after a significant 50-yard pass from quarterback Jake Nawrot to Josh Riggs.

Osterhues added to Barrington’s lead with a four-yard touchdown run just before halftime, bringing the score to 21-7. He later sealed the game with a 50-yard touchdown run, increasing the lead to 35-14. The Broncos also executed a lengthy 14-play, 70-yard drive that consumed over six minutes of the clock, culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by Cameron Massillo.

Hersey’s Resilience and Future Outlook

Despite the loss, the Hersey Huskies displayed determination, with Nawrot completing 19 of 27 passes for 265 yards. He threw three touchdown passes, two of which were caught by Austin Schultz and Tyler Wentink, covering 28 yards and 18 yards, respectively. Hersey’s head coach, Tom Nelson, acknowledged the challenges presented by facing strong teams like Barrington and Warren in the early season, stating, “We signed up for that. We want the challenges. We want to get better.”

The Broncos’ convincing victory demonstrates their strong offensive capabilities and teamwork while serving as a promising indicator for their season ahead. Meanwhile, the Huskies remain focused on growth, with a commitment to improving as the season progresses.