Barrington’s strong ground game beats Palatine

The passing game now takes precedence for most football teams in the Super 25. Star quarterbacks and flashy wide receivers score touchdowns quickly and often all over the area.

Barrington is using more of a balanced approach this season, but Saturday against visiting Palatine was all about pounding the ball on the ground.

The No. 15 Broncos ran for 265 yards and six touchdowns to beat the Pirates 42-21.

Barrington quarterback Luke Tepas ran for 75 yards and three TDs. Sophomore running back Lamar Osterhues had 16 carries for 132 yards and two TDs.

The Broncos returned three experienced players on the offensive line this season, Northwestern recruit Owen Fors (6-4, 290 pounds), Ben Knuth (6-2, 290 pounds) and Nick Rivera (6-3, 255 pounds).

“[Fors] really grabbed those guys and took on a leadership role in the offseason and made sure the line was going to continue to be a strong part of our team,” Barrington coach Joe Sanchez said. “We knew we had the potential to have a strong running game. We have some really talented backs.”

Cameron Massillo had 12 carries for 58 yards for the Broncos (4-1, 1-0 Mid-Suburban West). Tepas was 6 of 8 for 51 yards.

Osterhues, who scored four TDs against against Warren in the playoffs last year, came into the season with confidence.

“I set an expectation at the beginning of the season that I would be a big part of the Barrington offense,” Osterhues said. “I knew I wanted to do great things.”

Osterhues ripped off a 41-yard TD run early in the second half to put the Broncos ahead 28-14.

“We brought him up the last couple games last season, and he did really, really well for us,” Sanchez said. “He’s certainly a talented young man, but he knows that he’s one of 11.”

Fors also contributed a sack for Barrington, and senior linebacker Jett Kohanzo grabbed an interception in the key third quarter.

Palatine quarterback Will Santiago was 15-for-21 for 183 yards with one interception. He also ran for two scores. Princeton recruit Kole Fager had six catches for 113 yards.

“Fager is a difference maker for them,” Sanchez said. “Everybody knows who is getting the ball on third down, and he still finds a way to make plays. He’s been a pain in our side for three years.”

Junior running back Ray Gaspard had 21 carries for 92 yards and a TD for the Pirates (2-3, 0-1), who have lost three consecutive games to ranked teams (Maine South, Glenbrook South, Barrington).

“We tip our cap to them,” Palatine coach Corey Olson said. “It’s been a challenging stretch, but everything is still in front of us.”

Barrington, which has defeated three ranked teams this season, is at Conant on Friday and then travels to Fremd for the biggest Mid-Suburban League showdown of the season on Oct. 10.

“We got better today,” Sanchez said. “We aren’t perfect and still have a long way to go. We knew we would be in for a war this week, and you saw that early. I’m proud of our players and coaches for the way they bounced back [after last week’s loss to Maine South].”