CRETE | There was no need for any late heroics or a big play in the closing minute.
Crete-Monee took care of business early and came up with big plays as it routed Ottawa 42-6 Saturday night in a Class 6A quarterfinal.
The Warriors (12-0) will play Lemont Nov. 17 in one semifinal. It was the third time in the last four years the Warriors were in a quarterfinal and first time they won.
"It feels great, we put in a lot of hard work this week, but we are not satisfied," Crete wide receiver/defensive back LaQuon Treadwell said. "We put it all together tonight. We came out and knew we had to set the tempo."
With the win, the Warriors (12-0) are making their first trip to the semifinals.
The Warriors' three phases of the game -- offense, defense and special teams -- all played well and nearly flawless.
After forcing Ottawa out on downs in the first series, Crete scored when Treadwell caught an 8-yard pass from Marcus Terrell with 7 minutes left in the first quarter.
"We knew we had to get going early and everything came together," Terrell said. "Defense got us in position and we took advantage of it."
On the next series, Devontay Merrill used a head's up play when the Ottawa punter kicked the ball straight up and the wind brought it back. No one touched it and he picked it up an ran it to the Ottawa 2-yard line.
"I'm kind of upset I didn't run it in," Merrill said. "I didn't know it was a live ball, so I just scooped it up."
Kyle Tilley scored on the next play, then Crete took advantage of a fumble to take a 21-0 lead. Crete's Rudy Antuna recovered a fumble on the 4 and Lance Lenoir scored on the next play with 4 minutes, 16 seconds left.
"We did play together and everyone was firing," Crete coach Jerry Verde said. "We knew they were a good team, but we also had seven turnovers last week against Richwoods."
Crete's defense held Ottawa (11-1) to 88 yards of offense, while its offense generated 298 total yards. Terrell was 10-of-16 passing for 135 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Treadwell, the top uncommitted receiver in the country, caught five for 80 yards and a score. He also rushed for 41 yards and a score. Lenoir caught two passes for 39 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a score.
Ottawa's Miguel Hermosillo, who had rushed for 1,986 yards coming in, was held to 32 yards, all in the first half. The Illinois recruit was battling a shoulder injury and did not play in the second half.
"The defense, we just wanted to shut them down," Crete linebacker Nyles Morgan said. "We didn't want to let them back in like we did Richwoods."
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