Koprowski, Vikings Break Through Late to Drop Bolingbrook

by: Michael Sanders

Homewood-Flossmoor opened its season with grit, swagger, and a little bit of sophomore magic.

Linebacker Ryan Koprowski was everywhere, creating three turnovers — two fumble recoveries and an interception — as the Vikings battled past Bolingbrook 44-30 in a thriller Friday night.

“I told myself all week, I’m getting a pick in the first game,” Koprowski said. “I made it real in my head — then made it real on the field.”

He backed it up. His interception came in the second quarter off a tipped pass, sandwiched between a muffed punt recovery and another fumble scoop in the second half. For a young defense, Koprowski was the heartbeat.

Bolingbrook didn’t back down. QB Tyson Ward powered in a short rushing score, then connected with Caleb Wallace on a conversion pass to put the Raiders up 30-29 with 7:14 left.

That’s when H-F responded with its biggest drive of the night. The Vikings marched 96 yards in under three minutes, capped by a 56-yard explosion from Kourtney Smith that flipped the scoreboard for good.

The final dagger came from the defense. With four minutes left, sophomore David Hill strip-sacked Ward, senior Khamryn Beaver pounced on the ball, and QB Rahsaan Coleman delivered his third touchdown of the night — a strike to tight end Martez Harding II — plus the conversion to seal it.

Head coach Troy McAllister knows his squad is young but fearless. “We’ve got four sophomores and a freshman starting. Sometimes you’ll see mistakes, but tonight you saw belief. When Bolingbrook took the lead, our guys responded.”

Final: H-F 44, Bolingbrook 30.

Bottom line: The Vikings leaned on their future to win in the present. Koprowski’s playmaking, Smith’s breakaway run, and Coleman’s steady hand proved this young H-F team is ready for the moment.