Dransfeldt, Redskins end Raiders’ run
Kameron Dransfeldt has a fairly unique last name, so most people are able to figure out that he’s the son of former White Sox shortstop Kelly Dransfeldt. But the senior running back just might be one win away from eclipsing his father’s fame at Morris.
Dransfeldt scored five touchdowns and ran for 203 yards Saturday at Hanson Stadium as the Redskins crushed Raby 43- 8 in the Class 4A state semifinals. Morris will face Rochester in the championship Friday in DeKalb.
“That’s the most touchdowns I’ve ever scored in a game and the second- most yards,” Dransfeldt said. “It was the line and the lead blocks, definitely. It’s easy to run through those type of holes. Everybody brought their ‘ A’ game, and that’s what happens.”
Dransfeldt broke loose for a 43yard touchdown run on the first drive of the game. Just 30 seconds later, Raby quarterback Tyshun Turnipseed was intercepted by defensive back Payton Voitik.
Chatten Dryfhout scored on a seven- yard run with 8: 19 to play in the first quarter, and the Raiders ( 11- 2) found themselves in a big hole. Dryfhout had 16 carries for 95 yards.
“I had a good break on it, and it felt like he threw it right to me,” Voitik said. “We had the momentum right from the start. I think it just rolled and rolled. Momentum really changed the game for us.”
Morris ( 11- 2) opened with 22 consecutive run plays and threw just one pass in the game, a 68- yard strike from Mitchell Mayberry to senior Tyler Spiezio ( the son of former major- league baseball player Scott Spiezio).
Raby was trying to become just the third school in Public League history to play for a football state title. Despite the loss, Raby had its best season in school history.
“It’s still disappointing,” Raby coach D’Angelo Dereef said. “We feel like we were the better team. The kids just weren’t feeling it today. I saw it when they walked in, it just wasn’t the same vibe. I don’t know what was going on.”
Raiders running back Danquis Smith had 22 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown but was never able to break free for a big gain.
“He’s a really good running back, really shifty,” Voitik said. “We just tried to get an initial hit on him and then contain him with team tackling.”
The artificial surface at Hanson didn’t seem to bother the Redskins.
“We got new shoes, but it didn’t really effect us,” Voitik said. “We’d play on concrete, we’d play on anything. Football is football.”
Morris lost to Peoria Central in the semifinals last season, so advancing to state was the goal.
“After last year, we knew we had a chance to do this,” Voitik said. “From the first practice, every rep was for state. This is crazy. It’s a feeling I can’t describe.”
Turnipseed was 11- for- 19 for 154 yards with two interceptions. A heavy wind kept the Raiders from throwing the ball when they were driving north, which limited their normally explosive offense.
“The future here is bright,” Dereef said. “We’ll be back next year, we aren’t losing very much. This is the best team we’ve ever had. No West Side team has ever gone this far. Those are things to hang our hat on, but our ultimate goal was to win the state championship.”
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