About a half hour before Bolingbrook's 33-7 win at Sandburg began on Friday night, John Seigler found out that he would be starting in place of Jamel Martin at running back.
Martin, the team's leading rusher, injured his left ankle a week ago during the Brook's win over Lincoln-Way East. He was dressed for the game and went through warmups, but coach John Ivlow decided to hold Martin out as a precaution.
"I thought it was fine," Martin said about his ankle. "He didn't want me to play. I trust him on that."
As it turned out, the Raiders (8-0) did just fine without Martin as Seigler rushed for 168 yards and scored two touchdowns to help Bolingbrook wrap up its second Southwest Suburban Conference Blue championship in a row. The senior made several highlight reel runs, but most of his efforts were tough between the tackles bursts.
"I think by far this is probably my best game," Seigler said. "I got bruises to show it. I just kept running hard and my feet just stayed up. I was like, 'oh shoot.' I just kept running."
The Raiders hadn't played on a wet natural grass field since week two at Eisenhower. In that game, Seigler started in place of Martin, who was held out of the first quarter because of a violation of team rules. Seigler, who also had a 100-yard performance in that game, said the field conditions were better at Eisenhower.
"Out here it was more muddy," Seigler said. "So I knew I didn't have any moves. I just had to run hard and just get pound for pound."
Question Mark
Defensive tackle Brandon Tucker was injured during the third quarter when he sacked Sandburg quarterback Brian Hansen. Tucker fell hard on his left shoulder and stayed on the ground for several minutes. He did not return to the game.
Ivlow said Tucker would be evaluated this week. If Tucker has a separated shoulder, it is unlikely that he would play next Friday in the season finale at Lockport.
In other injury news, defensive backs Marcus Daniels and Maurice Armstead both sat out Friday's game.
Armstead suffered a high ankle sprain last week that was so painful that he had to be carted out of the stadium. He told The Brook Blog that his left ankle has healed to the point that he can run on it now.
"They want me ready for the playoffs," he said.
Daniels told The Brook Blog that he sat out because of a concusion from "a couple weeks ago." He said he will play against Lockport.
Also missing Friday's game were junior defensive backs Karlton Sellers, who was on crutches with his left leg up, and Tim Rutherford.
Ivlow said that all the players that sat out against Sandburg would play next week.
Inspiration
When the Raiders began their pregame routine on the field, there were several taunts thrown their way from the Sandburg student section. The tamest of them being the traditional "overrated" chant that every underdog favors.
Several of the Raiders turned to the crowd and raised their arms, seemingly saying, "keep it up."
"I'd personally like to thank their student section," Ivlow said.
Wide Open
It was another clean performance from quarterback Brad Geever. He was 7 of 11 for 147 yards passing without an interception, including touchdowns of 29 yards to Alfonzo Sylvester and 50 yards to Chris Williams.
On the long one to Williams, Geever found his receiver without a defender anywhere near him.
"The defeneses respect the run," Williams said. "They're freaking flying in, so it's opened up passes for us with play action. So it's been wide open."
Not that he's complaining about being open.
"I'd rather be wide open than have somebody on my back," Williams said.
No Turnovers
Not only did the Raiders offense protect the ball on Friday, but Bolingbrook didn't force any turnovers either, which is uncharacteristic for a team that arrived in Orland Park with 27 takeaways on the season.
"They're hard to come by, it's just by a stroke of luck," Ivlow said. "Well, we work on it, but we've been very fortunate with turnovers. Both sides of the ball, not having them on offense and getting them on defense. We work hard on offense on ball security. Other teams must not because these guys do a good job of getting it out."
The Raiders did force a couple turnovers on downs, but those won't count. For the season, Bolingbrook is plus 16 in turnover margin.
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