Detton Tietjens’ Quick Thinking Helps Secure Palatine’s Rivalry Win over Undefeated Fremd
A Fumble Recovery with 49 Seconds Left Seals the Deal
The ball squeaked out of the pile and rolled into the end zone. Both sides of the city of Palatine waited for a split second and then senior Detton Tietjens fell on the ball. Tietjens’ fumble recovery with 49 seconds left sealed a 28-21 rivalry win for Palatine over No. 8 Fremd on Thursday.
“It was mixed up with all the linemen and then it popped out,” Tietjens said. “That’s just instinct to fall on the ball. But senior year against your rival, that is a special moment.”
Fremd’s High-Flying Offense Falters Against Palatine’s Dominant Line Play
Fremd (6-1, 2-1 Mid-Suburban West) entered undefeated, riding high on a mountain of hype after knocking off Barrington in Week 6 with a record-setting performance from quarterback Johnny O’Brien. The Northwestern recruit was terrific again, finishing 24 for 39 for 374 yards and 2 TDs. However, Palatine’s defense held Fremd to just 62 rushing yards, stifling the Vikings’ ground game.
Palatine’s Balanced Offense Carries the Day
Palatine won the battle on both lines. Pirates quarterback Will Santiago perfectly summed up the play of his offensive line: “I could pull out a blanket and sleep back there. I had all day. I’m really blessed to have a line like that.” Santiago had 16 carries for 117 yards. He was 15 for 24 passing for 176 yards and 2 TDs. Santiago’s 17-yard TD pass to Ryan Donnelly with 53 seconds left in the third quarter gave the Pirates the lead for good.
A Thrilling Finish
Palatine (6-1, 3-0) missed a 33-yard field goal with 2:28 to play. That gave O’Brien and Fremd the ball and a chance to win or tie on the last drive. O’Brien drove the Vikings down to the 2 but then fumbled into the end zone on their final play.
Post-Game Reaction
“Freewood made us earn everything and then made us earn everything,” Palatine coach Corey Olson said. “We just did it in different ways. They couldn’t get the running game going. I kind of anticipated that. They were all pass. But they are pretty darn good at that.”
Junior Kole Fager was another beneficiary of Palatine’s offensive line. He had 15 carries for 68 yards and 2 TDs.
“The focus of this week was to pound the ball,” Fager said. “Not just to pound it but to be dominant. When we play Fremd we are dominant. We are domination. That’s our goal.”
Conclusion
Detton Tietjens’ fumble recovery with 49 seconds left sealed a thrilling 28-21 win for Palatine over undefeated Fremd. The Pirates’ balanced offense and dominant line play paid off, as they held off the Vikings’ high-flying offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
* What was the final score in the Palatine-Fremd game?
28-21, in favor of Palatine
* How many yards did Johnny O’Brien throw for?
374 yards
* Who had the fumble recovery with 49 seconds left?
Detton Tietjens
