Lockport’s Khairi Sias Shines in 49-Yard TD, Beats Sandburg 21-14

UPDATE: Khairi Sias delivered a stunning performance with a 49-yard touchdown catch, propelling Lockport to a 21-14 victory over Sandburg in the Class 8A playoffs on Saturday night in Orland Park. This hard-fought first-round playoff game showcased Sias’ talent, giving the Porters a crucial two-touchdown lead at the start of the fourth quarter.

Lockport, now on a six-game winning streak with a record of 7-3, will host Homewood-Flossmoor at 6 p.m. next Saturday for the second round. Sias expressed his excitement, stating, “This feels great.”

As the fourth quarter began, with the Porters holding a slim seven-point lead, the coaching staff called on Sias for a pivotal play. “That was all, Kristopher Norton,” Lockport coach George Czart acknowledged. “He told me, ‘I’m going to throw it deep.’ I said, ‘It’s your game.’” The perfect pass from senior quarterback Brendan Mecher found Sias just crossing the goal line, pushing Lockport’s lead to 21-7.

Mecher, who completed 8 of 16 passes for 117 yards and contributed 80 rushing yards on 20 carries, reflected on their teamwork: “I promised him I would get him one, and he made the play.”

Despite the setback, Sandburg (also 7-3) fought back fiercely. Quarterback Jeffrey Bellik connected with junior Lucas Matykiewicz for a 31-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the score to 21-14 with just over eight minutes left in the game.

Lockport managed to retain possession for over six minutes but faced a turnover on downs at the Eagle 35 with 2:07 remaining. Sandburg had the opportunity to tie the game, advancing to a second-and-6 at the Porter 44. However, two incompletions led to a critical fourth down. Junior quarterback Sean Ruisz was pressured and threw an interception to Armando (AJ) Garcia Jr. with 58 seconds left, sealing Lockport’s victory.

“The defense played amazingly, and came up with the big plays,” Mecher said, emphasizing the significance of the neighborhood rivalry. “It was an amazing game, and we came out on top.”

Sandburg initially took the lead with a 21-yard touchdown run from junior running back Quinn Durkin. A subsequent interception by senior safety Colton Benaitis set up a 24-yard field goal by Matt Blazewski. Though Blazewski left the game due to injury, junior Zane Szynkowski stepped up to kick a 30-yard field goal just before halftime, making it 7-6.

Lockport responded with a 76-yard, 13-play drive culminating in a touchdown by Mecher, who also scored on a two-point conversion, extending their lead to 14-7.

This victory marks Lockport’s first postseason win since their 2021 Class 8A State Championship. The team celebrated the win and coach Czart’s upcoming birthday, as players sang “Happy Birthday” after the game. “It was a total team victory,” Czart said with a smile. “We knew we had our hands full.”

As Lockport prepares for the next round, fans and players alike are buzzing with excitement over their continued playoff journey. Stay tuned for updates on their next matchup!