Reavis is saying goodbye to its bleachers which have stood since 1959 and is making some other additions to Hanke Stadium in the coming year.
The Rams decided they wanted to put on one more show for the fans in the stands and Nikko Roberts got things started.
Roberts returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and Reavis was off and running for a 42-0 win over Oak Lawn on Oct. 24.
“It felt really good,” Robert said about the opening play. “I knew it was a squib kick and that I’d have to pick it up. I caught some blocks and took it to the crib.”
“That was crazy,” Rams senior Parker Zasada said. “I wasn’t on the field. … But when I saw him running, I just started sprinting and celebrated. We were all hyped.”
Roberts also caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dardan Nreci that gave the Rams (6-3, 3-3 South Suburban Red) a 28-0 lead.
“He’s a tremendous athlete,” Reavis coach Tim Zasada said. “It’s great to see him do what he has done. And then on senior night, the return on the opening kickoff, and to score the first play of the game and the last play of the half is special.”
Roberts is very active on the field. Outside of his offensive and special-teams assignments, he is a defensive back.
“Guy never comes off the field. When I say that, he’s also in the band so he really never comes off the field,” Tim Zasada said.
Roberts is a member of the percussion section in the school’s band and also plays basketball.
Nehemiah Rogers rushed 16 times for 122 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown, while Arafat Alsharif had eight attempts for 56 yards and a touchdown for the Rams. Parker Zasada also ran for a score.
The Rams defense shut down the Spartans (7-2, 4-2). Messiah Lugo recovered a fumble while Nick Pryor had a pick-six and Jacob Gustafson also had an interception.
“It starts with our coaching staff. Pete Gabel is our defensive coordinator, and his three amazing assistants work really hard,” Tim Zasada said. “And our kids listen. They knew what plays were coming and they put them in great positions. Anytime you practice and you’re prepared, good things will happen.”
This win was the fifth shutout by the Rams and the first time Oak Lawn has been held scoreless this season.
“When someone comes out having seven wins, our mentality is just play our hardest and keep playing no matter what,” Pryor said. “And today, the scoreboard showed it.”
Despite this loss, the Spartans are headed to their first playoff game since 2009 and plan to forget this game. Oak Lawn will host St. Laurence in a Class 6A opener.
“Great job by Reavis tonight,” Spartans coach Ryan Pattison said. “They came out and executed. We have to have a heck of a week of practice and get these guys up to speed and ready to execute the way that they need to keep this season going.”
Reavis, which opens the Class 7A playoffs at Lincoln-Way Central, also hopes to keep this season going.
“I stay locked in throughout practice, throughout the school, coaches, our players — we are just locked in,” Roberts said. “We play as one. We play as a family. We just build off each other.”
“All the fans are awesome,” Parker Zasada said. The stadium is awesome. We just had to come out with a win.”