Basil Webber wins first start as quarterback for Hillcrest after transferring from Providence
By: Steve Reaven, Daily Southtown
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Senior quarterback Basil Webber was making his first start Friday night after transferring to Hillcrest from Providence.
He made it a good one.
The Hawks also showed big-play ability in all three phases of the game in its season opener, pulling out a 27-16 victory over Rich Central in Country Club Hills.
Hillcrest answered a momentum-shifting, second-half burst by the Olympians.
“It was a great team win where we faced some adversity and came out on top,” Webber said. “Everyone contributed, and that’s nice to see.”
Hillcrest (1-0) was on cruise control midway through the third quarter after jumping to a 19-0 lead.
An interception by Andre Smith and the recovery off a blocked punt in Rich Central’s end zone by sophomore Mar’Keise Irving helped build the cushion.
But touchdowns on consecutive drives by Rich Central (0-1), sandwiched around a fumbled kickoff return by Hillcrest, brought the Olympians within 19-16.
Rich Central’s flurry came out of nowhere after being held to 51 yards in the first half.
Zach Roebuck delivered a 6-yard TD catch from Vince Brown to cut the Olympians’ deficit to three.
“We thought that we were ready to win that game,” Roebuck said . “That put a smile on everyone’s faces. We’re ballplayers — we weren’t done being down by two touchdowns.”
Irving answered that, however, with a 56-yard TD. The Hawks pitched a shutout thereafter to seal the win.
It was quite an arrival onto the scene for Irving in his first varsity action.
“On the punt, it was in the air and no one wanted the ball, so I went to go scoop it,” Irving said. “I waited my turn and tried to make the most of my opportunities.”
The two schools, separated by four miles, renewed their football rivalry after 12 seasons, which gave players on both teams months of anticipation.
“Even though I’m new, you could feel the tension out there,” Webber said. “The atmosphere was great.”
Watch highlights of the game from NBC 5 Sports Chicago: