Curtis Rushes for 193 Yards, Two TDs as Sycamore Edges DeKalb
Source: The Shaw Local News Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
Sycamore head coach Rob Stover made it clear after the game that his offense must become more diverse. But for one night, Dylan Curtis made the one-dimensional approach work brilliantly. The senior running back logged 32 carries for 193 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Spartans to a 20-14 victory over their crosstown rival DeKalb at a rain-soaked field on Saturday. The win extended Sycamore's streak over the Barbs to five games, with the last three decided by a touchdown or less.
"It feels amazing. I'm so proud of our team and so proud of our O-line," Curtis said. "I'm so proud of my running backs that were blocking for me. They blocked their hardest, I blocked my hardest, everybody played their hardest and I'm so proud of everybody on this team."
Originally slated for Friday night at Northern Illinois University's Huskie Stadium, the game was pushed back a day and relocated to DeKalb after severe storms swept through the area. The delay did nothing to dull the intensity of this long-standing rivalry. DeKalb nearly seized control early in the third quarter. After receiving the second-half kickoff out of bounds, Brandon Williams burst through the middle for a 24-yard gain. Quarterback LeBron Carrington then raced 30 yards down the left sideline to the Sycamore 11-yard line. But on the very next play, Williams fumbled after a 5-yard run, and Luke Hendron recovered the ball for Sycamore, returning it to the 25-yard line.
The teams traded punts before Sycamore mounted a decisive 10-play, 62-yard drive. Curtis carried seven times for 39 yards, converting a third-and-3 with a 10-yard run and capping the drive with a 4-yard touchdown plunge to put the Spartans ahead 14-7. Curtis's longest run of the night before his 30th carry was only 13 yards, highlighting his relentless grinding style. "It's a lot but I'm willing to do that for this team," Curtis said. "I'm sure everybody on this team would do the same thing."
DeKalb's fortunes worsened when LeMarrio Moore fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving Sycamore the ball in prime field position. Curtis then ran five times on a seven-play drive, finishing with a 13-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 20-7. Stover, in his debut as Sycamore's head coach, acknowledged Curtis's offseason conditioning but stressed the need for balance. "That being said, we have to be able to be more multifaceted so we're not depending on him to carry the ball all the time," Stover said. "We'll get that worked out this week."
DeKalb refused to fold. With Carrington sidelined due to cramps, backup quarterback Marcus Hill connected with Williams on a deep streak for a 78-yard touchdown with 7:52 remaining, cutting the deficit to 20-14. Sycamore attempted to drain the clock, feeding Vasilios Arhos as the lead back. But the Barbs held him to 5 yards on third-and-7 and stuffed him for no gain on fourth-and-2 with 3:19 left. Hill took over under center and ran three times to advance to the Sycamore 43-yard line. However, the Spartans' defense delivered the final blow: Adam Carrick and Arhos sacked Hill on consecutive plays, forcing a turnover on downs. Sycamore then ran out the clock.
DeKalb coach Derek Schneeman lamented the two costly turnovers. "We just have to take care of the ball," Schneeman said. "I promise you this, we're going to do a lot of ball security this week because it's extremely frustrating when that costs you games."
The game began with four straight Curtis runs, but Arhos fumbled on his first carry, and Jayden Coleman recovered for DeKalb at the Spartans' 47. Carrington broke off a long run inside the Sycamore 30, but it was nullified by a holding penalty. The Barbs went three-and-out, and Sycamore responded with a 15-play scoring drive that ended with Curtis's 8-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. DeKalb answered with a 36-yard sweep by Braylon Harness to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:37 left in the half.
Sycamore outgained DeKalb 304-247. The Barbs attempted only three passes, completing one—the 78-yard touchdown. Sycamore quarterback Madden Larsen completed 3 of 6 passes for 24 yards in his first varsity start. Curtis, reflecting on the win, emphasized the team's resilience. "I think a lot of people doubted us coming into this because we lost a lot of people," Curtis said. "But it shows we have heart. ... Nobody should sleep on us ever, even if we had a fall-off year. Everybody has those."
Article commentary
Sycamore's season-opening victory over DeKalb was a classic tale of grit over finesse, a game defined by a single workhorse back and a defense that bent but didn't break. Dylan Curtis's 32-carry, 193-yard performance is the kind of throwback effort that often dominates lower-level high school football, where the run game remains the backbone of many offenses. Yet, while the result was satisfying for the Spartans, the heavy reliance on one player raises questions about sustainability as the season progresses. Head coach Rob Stover acknowledged this, calling for a more balanced distribution of carries. His team's total offense—304 yards, with 280 coming on the ground—paints a clear picture: Sycamore is a run-first, run-often team. The problem is that defenses will key in on Curtis if no other threat emerges. In the second half, DeKalb nearly capitalized on Sycamore's predictability, holding Vasilios Arhos to just six yards on key third and fourth downs. That sequence could have been a turning point if not for the Spartans' defensive stand. Turnovers, as always, were the great equalizer. DeKalb's two fumbles—one in the red zone and one on a kickoff—directly led to 13 Sycamore points. Coach Derek Schneeman's frustration is understandable: in a game that was otherwise evenly matched (DeKalb outgained in total yards but not by a huge margin), ball security undid his team. The Barbs' passing game was practically nonexistent until the desperation fourth quarter, when Marcus Hill connected on a 78-yard strike. That play showed what DeKalb's offense is capable of when it stretches the field, but relying on a single deep shot—especially when your primary quarterback is sidelined with cramps—is a risky strategy. DeKalb's inability to sustain drives through the air will likely be a focus as they prepare for Week 2. For Sycamore, the win carries emotional weight beyond the scoreboard. It was Stover's first game as head coach, and the team lost several key players from last year. Curtis's declaration that "nobody should sleep on us" reflects a locker room that has already forged an identity built on resilience. Still, the coaching staff must address the offensive imbalance. A one-dimensional approach can work in a rivalry game, but it becomes a liability against deeper, more disciplined defenses. The Spartans' offensive line deserves credit for creating lanes, but they will need to give Larsen more time to throw to keep defenses honest. Larsen's 3-of-6 passing for 24 yards is a stat line that screams "game manager," but that role may evolve as he gains experience. From a broader perspective, this game is a microcosm of high school football in the region: physical, weather-impacted, and deeply emotional. The postponement from Friday to Saturday due to storms, coupled with the shift in venue, added an extra layer of chaos. Yet both teams adapted, delivering a contest that was competitive until the final snap. The takeaway for DeKalb is that they are close—one or two plays away from flipping the script. For Sycamore, the message is simpler: they have a star in Curtis, but they need a supporting cast to keep the magic alive. The next few weeks will reveal whether this win was a foundation or a flash in the pan.