Sandburg football has a tradition in which the underclassmen and coaching staff stand on the goal line and the adjacent sidelines after a game.
On Oct. 30, this ceremony filled with hugs and handshakes signified that their season had ended and it was time to say goodbye to the seniors.
The Eagles lost to visiting Barrington 24-17 in Class 8A first-round action to finish 7-3.
“I’m indebted to the seniors and this senior group.” Sandburg coach Sheamus Murphy said. “They were my first two-year group as juniors and seniors. To have back-to-back seven-win seasons for the first time since 2009-10, that speaks volumes to that group.
“Coaching changes are never easy, but these guys bought in and they stuck together. Obviously, this isn’t the end result that we wanted (Friday) night, but they have a ton to be proud of and everything they accomplished. I can’t thank them enough for the foundation they’ve created.
“I thank the players for their hard work and their sacrifice. But this isn’t it. A lot of these guys have a lot to look forward to and that’s the thing you have to hammer home.”
Trailing by a touchdown, Sandburg had one final opportunity to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. After taking over on the Barrington 41 with 3:04 remaining, the Eagles reached the Broncos’ 15, but Sean Ruisz’s pass into the end zone on fourth-and-2 fell incomplete. Ruisz finished 6 of 15 passing for 73 yards.
“This has been everything to me,” Ruisz said of playing for the Eagles. “This has been my life. These guys have been my brothers and we’ve played together since we were 6 years old.
“Playing with them has changed me in so many ways as a person. They kept me accountable and helped me grow as a leader. I got out of my comfort zone. This gave me a chance to lead and I took it.”
Sandburg took a 7-0 lead at 4:03 of the first quarter on a 1-yard sneak by Ruisz (13 carries, 61 yards). That possession was set up by an interception by Barret Sigel at the Broncos 15.
Barrington (7-4) tied the game at 7 on a 46-yard run by Lamar Osterhues, who finished with 203 yards on 31 carries.
After a 1-yard TD run by Osterhues gave the guests a 14-7 advantage, junior Vinny Annel (five carries, 70 yards) sprinted 64 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 14.
“We had a lot of doubters at the beginning of the season,” Annel said. “It was us against everybody and we built on that all season. It didn’t show (Friday) night, but deep down we know what we did this year.
“It (stinks) to see the seniors sad and some of them may never play football again. But next year is my senior year and we have to go out with a bang.”
After Sandburg went up 17-14 on Landin Albright’s 23-yard field goal at 8:23 of the third quarter, Barrington tied it when Evan Beals drilled a 42-yard field goal.
Vince Costa’s 29-yard TD run with 2:36 remaining in the game put Barrington ahead for good.
Nasir Dixon contributed 49 yards on eight carries for Sandburg.