DDC_IHSA Football State Championship_112819

FINAL

DESTINATION 2019 IHSA FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND IN DeKALB

DAILY CHRONICLE | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2019 | FRIDAYNIGHTDRIVE.COM

Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

IHSA FOOTBALL

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JOIN OUR TEAM It takes a lot of hard work to get to the state championship.

It takes the same determination to succeed in college, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.

We offer the world-class education you need and the personal attention you want. Apply today to join our team!

go.niu.edu/apply

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Spectators in the stands and viewers on TV will see high school football at an elite level when the state’s final 16 teams square off in the IHSA Football State Championships on Friday and Saturday on Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium.

The 25,000 to 30,000 people expected to visit DeKalb County during the two-day event will also have a chance to see that ours is an elite community, with friendly people, an excellent university, lots to see and do and not so much city traffic.

Everyone has put in a lot of work to get here.

First and most important is the work of the players themselves, who have spent countless hours at practice, strength and conditioning training, and study needed to make their team among the best in the state.

There are the coaches, who have guided and mentored young athletes for months, and in some cases, years. There are the parents, whose support and dedication has helped their children realize their talents.

This is their big moment.

Many local people have worked to provide a venue that will be its equal. The DeKalb area will be ready to showcase its hospitality. North-

FROM THE GM’S DESK Eric Olson ern Illinois University, which is a critical component of our local identity, will be on display, too, for thousands of prospective students and their families.

Many businesses are taking extra steps to ensure that they will be able to provide the service that guests will want and expect. That includes us – our 24/7/365 prep football website, FridayNightDrive.com, will have wall-to-wall coverage of every game.

There will be pregame analysis, features and predictions, in-game coverage, and photos, video and more about the games themselves.

If you’re visiting DeKalb from out of town this weekend, we’re glad you’re here. You’ll probably want to eat, and our community has something that will suit your preference.

You can find a complete listing of restaurants on the City of DeKalb’s online guide, www.cityofdekalb. com/1101/foodie. You can also find deals for popular local restaurants including The Junction, Fanatico

Cucina Italiana and others through the Daily Chronicle website with this link: shawurl.com/restaurantdeals.

If you need details on parking, what you can and can’t bring into the stadium, and any other questions about the event, check out the informative website ihsadestinationdekalb.com, which includes maps, directions and all the information you need to navigate your way to and from the site.

This is the fourth year that NIU’s Huskie Stadium has hosted the football championships – it will host them at least once more in 2021 – and the event has continued to change and improve each time.

This is the result of a collaborative effort among a number of local officials from the City of DeKalb, NIU, the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the IHSA Destination DeKalb Host Committee and local sponsors to make this possible.

The effort also relies on the work of community volunteers, who help to take tickets, direct parking lots, work as ushers and help in the event’s fun tailgate area, the Spirit Zone. Every team gets their own tailgate tent in the Spirit Zone, and

there will be awards given to the most spirited fans, as well as performances by cheer and dance teams and bands.

Although DeKalb County’s five high school football teams came up short of the final weekend of football this year, the games are still worth your time. Having seen several of championship games, including at Huskie Stadium, in the past, I can tell you there’s great energy and the games are usually well worth the $12 price of admission.

Some of these players are really good, and some them will go on to be successful at the collegiate level, or even to make their mark at the professional level as players or coaches.

There are so many good stories behind how these teams made it to be among the final 16 in Illinois, and the pages in the rest of this section will tell you all about them.

The final chapter of this season is just about to be written. Good luck to all.

• Eric Olson is general manager of the Daily Chronicle. Reach him at 815-756-4841 ext. 2257, eolson@shawmedia.com, or on Twitter @DC_Editor.

#PROUDLYDEKALB Welcome IHSA Football Championship Congratulations to all of the teams and their fans for making it to the 2019 IHSA Football Championship!

The City of DeKalb and our residents welcome you to our community.

Before or after cheering on your team at Huskie Stadium, we hope you have the opportunity to explore Welcome IHSA Football Championship everything DeKalb has to offer, including the many dining options throughout the community. We have all the familiar favorites and a few restaurants we like to consider distinctly DeKalb.

We know you will enjoy your visit and hope you have the chance to come back and visit us soon.

DeKalb is host to many special events, a rich arts culture, and great entertainment. DeKalb is a year-round destination.

Best of luck to your team! We hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable IHSA Football Championship. Big city amenities without the big city drive await you in DeKalb. Join us and become #PROUDLYDEKALB SM-CL1719456

Contact: City of DeKalb City Manager at 815.748.2391 bill.nicklas@cityofdekalb.com

3 IHSA FOOTBALL Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

State’s elite football athletes in an elite community

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

4 IHSA FOOTBALL

Friday

Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

Class 1A: Lena-Winslow (13-0) vs. Central A&M (13-0), 10 a.m.

Class 2A: Newman Central Catholic (12-1) vs. Nashville (12-1), 1 p.m.

Class 3A: Byron (12-1) vs. Williamsville (13-0), 4 p.m.

Class 4A: Richmond-Burton (13-0) vs. Murphysboro (11-2), 7 p.m.

Saturday

Class 5A: St. Rita (10-3) vs. Rochester (12-1), 10 a.m.

Class 6A: Prairie Ridge (12-1) vs. East St. Louis (13-0), 1 p.m.

Class 7A: Mt. Carmel (13-0) vs. Nazareth (13-0), 4 p.m.

Class 8A: Warren (13-0) vs. Lincoln-Way East (13-0), 7 p.m.

RESULTS History in DeKalb

2013

Class 1A: Lena-Winslow 28, Tri-Valley 21 Class 2A: Newman Central Catholic 40, Staunton 13 Class 3A: Stillman Valley 43, St. Joseph-Ogden 41 (OT) Class 4A: Rochester 16, Geneseo 8 Class 5A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 38, Montini 28 Class 6A: Batavia 34, Oak Lawn Richards 14 Class 7A: Mt. Carmel 30, Lake Zurich 0 Class 8A: Naperville Central 13, Loyola Academy 0

2015 Kevin Solari – ksolari@shawmedia.com

Jasmine Petty, a bartender at Fatty’s, pours a beer on Nov. 22. The pub has been preparing for the crowds on Thanksgiving weekend for several weeks.

‘Fun and good for business’ DeKalb businesses prepare for state football finals

By KEVIN SOLARI

ksolari@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Micah Van Loon said a call ahead next weekend can help if you have a big party.

The Junction Eating Place, 816 W. Lincoln Highway, is one of the area businesses preparing for an influx of people as the the IHSA state football finals descend on DeKalb.

“We’ll get whole teams occasionally,” said Van Loon, who described himself as a “jack of all trades” at the restaurant. In past years, the restaurant has seen parties of 30 or more stop by during the weekend.

This year marks the fourth that DeKalb and Northern Illinois University have hosted the football finals. Since 2013, the region has traded off with Champaign holding the games.

Brad Hoey, with the IHSA Destination DeKalb committee, said the event can bring between $800,000 to $1 million to the area, between peo-

ple stopping in restaurants, staying at hotels and shopping in area stores.

“It gives us a chance to highlight the great things we have here,” Hoey said.

Hoey said the committee plans for between 24-30,000 people to come to the area, depending on which teams make it to state.

Brian White, general manager at Fatty’s Pub and Grille, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway, said he starts planning weeks in advance for the crush of visitors coming through town.

He said he begins setting schedules two weeks in advance to ensure enough staff.

“We try to get people fed as fast as possible,” he said, noting that customers that weekend often have games to get to after they eat.

The fact that the games take place over a holiday weekend adds another wrinkle to planning: many of the places he would order food from don’t deliver on Fridays, so, White

said, they have to plan further ahead than they normally would so as not to run out of product in the middle of Saturday.

Tom Tsiagalis, an owner of The Junction for the past 40 years, said his restaurant prepares by expecting a younger crowd, prepping sweeter menu items like cinnamon rolls and french toast for breakfast, which he serves all day.

“All around the businesses get a lot of visitors,” he said.

Hoey said the weekend is an opportunity to showcase the area for the future as well. He said a lot of the visitors to town are high school students, coming to town to support friends or relatives competing in the games.

“There’s thousands of prospective students,” he said. “Hopefully they’re looking at the university, too.”

“We’re excited. We love when this comes to town,” White said. “It’s fun and good for business.”

Class 1A: Arcola 35, Stark County 17 Class 2A: Tri-Valley 41, Auburn 8 Class 3A: McNamara 50, Tolono Unity 7 Class 4A: Phillips 51, Althoff Catholic 7 Class 5A: Nazareth Academy 42, Lincoln Way-West 21 Class 6A: Montini 38, Crete-Monee 15 Class 7A: Glenbard West 34, Libertyville 28 Class 8A: Loyola Academy 41, Marist 0

2017

Class 1A: Lena-Winslow 21, Tuscola 20 Class 2A: Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 38, Maroa-Forsythe 32 Class 3A: IC Catholic 35, Pleasant Plains 0 Class 4A: Rochester 24, Morris 21 Class 5A: Phillips 33, Dunlap 7 Class 6A: Prairie Ridge 28, Nazareth Academy 21 Class 7A: Batavia 21, Lake Zurich 14 (OT) Class 8A: Lincoln-Way East 23, Loyola Academy 14

Appearances in DeKalb by school

Four: None Three: Lena-Winslow (2-0), Loyola Academy (1-2), Nazareth (1-1), Rochester (2-0) Two: Batavia (2-0), Lake Zurich (0-2), Lincoln-Way East (1-0), Montini (1-1), Mt. Carmel (1-0), Newman Central Catholic (1-0), Phillips (2-0), Prairie Ridge (1-0), Tri-Valley (1-1), One: Althoff Catholic (0-1), Arcola (1-0), Auburn (0-1), Byron (0-0), Central A&M (0-0), Crete-Monee (0-1), Dunlap (0-1), East St. Louis (0-0), Geneseo (0-1), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (1-0), Glenbard West (1-0), IC Catholic (1-0), Libertyville (0-1), Lincoln-Way West (0-1), Marist (0-1), McNamara (1-0), Melvin-Forsythe (0-1), Morris (0-1), Murphysboro (0-0), Naperville Central (1-0), Nashville (0-0), Oak Lawn Richards (01), Ogden (0-1), Pleasant Plains (0-1), Richmond-Burton (0-0), Sacred Heart Griffin (1-0), St. Rita (0-0), Stark County (0-1), Staunton (0-1), Stillman Valley (1-0), Tolono Unity (0-1), Tuscola (0-1), Warren (0-0), Williamsville (0-0)

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEWS Lena-Winslow Panthers (13-0) vs. Central A&M Raiders (13-0) Lena-Winslow’s road: beat Eastland-Pearl City, 50-6; beat Amboy-LaMoille, 62-0; beat East Dubuque, 48-12; beat Dakota, 46-14; beat Stockton, 30-0; beat Orangeville, 46-7; beat Forreston, 46-14; beat Galena, 46-17; beat Durand-Pecatonica, 52-21; beat Aurora Christian, 46-8*; beat Orangeville, 52-8*; beat Aquin, 52-20*; beat Annawan-Wethersfield, 44-30* Central A&M’s road: beat Westville, 41-6; beat Nokomis, 42-6; beat Tuscola, 49-14; beat Warrenburg-Latham, 42-14; beat St. Teresa, 28-26; beat Shelbyville, 55-13; beat Clinton, 42-6; beat Meridian, 42-14; beat Sullivan-Okaw Valley, 55-14; beat Havana, 55-20*; beat Fisher, 69-34*; beat Arcola, 42-8*; beat Athens, 35-21* Distance to Huskie Stadium: Lena-Winslow, 80 miles west; Central A&M, 185 miles south About the Panthers: The Panthers are seeking their third state championship under Ric Arand, who has been at the helm of Lena-Winslow since 1997. Sean Ormiston eclipsed the 4,500 rushing yard mark for his career About the Raiders: Central A&M has a state title under its belt and four second-place finishes, although this is its first state trip since 2001. Jacob Paradee was a one-man wrecking crew for the Raiders with 24 tackles, an interception and a touchdown run to ice the game.

26*; beat DuQuoin, 48-14*; beat Vandalia, 56-28*; beat Quincy Notre Dame, 28-23* Distance to Huskie Stadium: Byron, 36 miles west; Williamsville, 168 miles south About the Tigers: It’s the third trip to the finals for Byron, which won the title in 1999 and was second last year. The last time the Tigers lost more than one game in a year was 2015 when they finished 9-3.

About the Bullets: Grant Ripperda has 1,449 rushing yards this year and 26 rushing touchdowns to lead a balanced Williamsville attack that has scored 56 times on the ground this year. Connor McCormick has completed 67% of his passes for 2,039 yards, 29 touchdowns and four interceptions. Williamsville is making its second state title game appearance, losing in 2014.

Class 4A

Newman Central Catholic Comets (12-1) vs.

Nashville (12-1) Newman’s road: beat Hall, 20-6; beat Princeton, 25-21; beat Kewanee, 27-26; beat Bureau Valley, 50-17; lost to Morrison, 18-6l; beat Rockridge, 28-7; beat Orion, 28-6; beat Riverdale, 14-7; beat Fulton, 25-8; beat Orion, 28-13*; beat Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, 21-6*; beat Knoxville, 28-0*; beat Fieldcrest, 21-7* Nashville’s road: beat Carlyle, 64-0; beat Massac County, 63-34; beat Wesclin, 47-6; beat Anna-Jonesboro, 49-14; beat Sparta, 53-14; beat Carterville, 41-38; beat Pickneyville, 47-7; lost to DuQuoin, 41-35; beat Frankfort, 49-20; beat Village Grove-Heritage, 35-0*; beat Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin, 28-14*; beat Pana, 41-19*; beat St. Teresa, 35-21* Distance to Huskie Stadium: Newman, 57 miles west; Nashville, 289 miles south About the Comets: Newman is into the finals for the eighth time, including five previous titles. They are in the playoffs for the 19th straight year.

About the Hornets: Junior Cole Malawy had a touchdown pass and Nick Miller scored twice in the win against St. Teresa. Jace Matecki had a key sack to help preserve the win. Nashville has made a title game, taking second in 1998. This year was just the sixth trip to the playoffs for the Hornets since 2004.

Richmond-Burton Rockets (13-0) vs. Murphysboro Red Devils (11-2) Richmond-Burton’s road: beat Wauconda, 4812; beat Aurora Central Catholic, 50-0; beat Johnsburg, 47-0; beat Harvard, 44-0; beat Marengo, 38-13; beat Woodstock, 56-0; beat Woodstock North, 49-0; beat Johnsburg, 37-14; beat Notre Dame, 34-14; beat Urban Prep-Bronzeville, 56-6*; beat Marengo, 49-7*; beat IC Catholic, 24-13*; beat Coal City, 30-0* Murphysboro’s road: lost to Carbondale, 32-29; beat Anna-Jonesboro, 48-8; beat Carterville, 49-0; beat Massac County, 27-0; beat Herrin, 41-0; lost to Frankfort, 1-0 (forfeit); beat Harrisburg, 49-7; beat Benton, 41-0; beat DuQuoin, 46-13; beat Civic Memorial, 20-14*; beat Illinois Valley Central, 28-14*; beat McNamara, 35-27*; beat Effingham, 20-17 (OT)* Distance to Huskie Stadium: Richmond-Burton, 56 miles northeast; Murphysboro, 332 miles south About the Rockets: They haven’t had a losing season since 2004 and took second in 2011. They were state champs in 1992.

About the Red Devils: They led Effingham 14-0 at the half but needed a touchdown pass from Jamarr McZeke to Jake Hoppenstedt to win in overtime. They are playing in a state championship for the first time.

They’ve made the playoffs just four times after 1996, all since 2014 or sooner. They have five winless seasons in that stretch.

Class 3A

Class 5A

Class 2A

Byron Tigers (12-1) vs. Williamsville Bullets (13-0) Byron’s road: beat Winnebago, 50-3; lost to Stillman Valley, 18-16; beat Rock Falls, 41-6; beat Oregon, 45-7; beat North Boone, 54-7; beat Mendota, 55-0; beat Rockford Lutheran, 41-6; beat Genoa-Kingston, 42-13; beat Dixon, 62-21; beat Alleman, 50-28*; beat Durand-Pecatonica, 42-14*; beat Wilmington, 32-0*; beat Princeton, 7-3* Williamsville’s road: beat Athens, 27-12; beat Riverton, 62-14; beat Aubrun, 34-17; beat Maroa-Forsyth, 43-41; beat North Mac, 55-22; beat Pleasant Plains, 63-13; beat New Berlin, 46-7; beat Pittsfield, 55-14; beat PORTA, 51-15; beat St. Joseph-Ogden, 54-

St. Rita Mustangs (10-3) vs. Rochester Rockets (12-1) St. Rita’s road: beat Joliet Catholic, 34-14; lost to Richards, 35-28; lost to Loyola, 24-7; lost to Montini, 45-35; beat Marian, 44-10; beat Providence Catholic, 22-0; beat Benet Academy, 37-16; beat Niles Notre Dame, 7-0; beat Glenbard South, 49-14*; beat Sterling, 32-0*; beat Hillcrest, 35-8*; beat Boylan Catholic, 42-21* Rochester’s road: beat Springfield Southeast, 55-25; beat Normal University, 48-17; beat Jacksonville, 71-31; beat MacArthur, 43-0; beat Sacred Heart-Griffin, 56-21; beat Eisenhower, 61-27; beat Springfield, 69-27; beat Lanphier, 42-0; lost to Glenwood, 56-26;

Class 6A

Prairie Ridge Wolves (12-1) vs. East St. Louis Flyers (13-0) Prairie Ridge’s road: beat Crystal Lake Central, 40-0; beat Hampshire, 59-0; lost to Huntley, 28-24; beat Dundee-Crown, 56-0; beat McHenry, 48-3; beat Jacobs, 56-15; beat Burlington Central, 56-16; beat Cary-Grove, 42-7; beat Crystal Lake South, 79-28; beat Grayslake North, 51-6*; beat Simeon, 49-0*; beat CaryGrove, 14-13*; beat Deerfield, 49-16* East St. Louis’ road: beat Batavia, 31-17; beat Trinity Catholic (Missouri), 32-0; beat Neuqua Valley, 50-48; beat Belleville West, 53-0; beat Alton, 54-7; beat Edwardsville, 43-21; beat O’Fallon, 51-3; beat Belleville East, 68-3; beat Naperville Central, 66-21; beat Morgan Park, 44-0*; beat Rock Island, 70-28*; beat Richards, 60-0*; beat Glenwood, 50-28* Distance to Huskie Stadium: Prairie Ridge, 47 miles northeast; East St. Louis, 274 miles southwest About the Wolves: Since starting football in 1997 the Wolves have missed the playoffs just five times and have three losing seasons. They won titles in 2011, 2016 and 2017.

About Flyers: It’s state title game No. 11 for the Flyers, who are 8-2 in their previous 10 trips. They last won a title in 2016 and have two this century.

Class 7A

Mt. Carmel Caravan (13-0) vs. Nazareth Academy Roadrunners (13-0) Mt. Carmel’s road: beat Calumet New Tech (Indiana), 42-0; beat Maine South, 21-7; beat Montini, 27-20; beat Loyola, 17-14; beat Marmion, 6-0; beat Marist, 21-14; beat De La Salle, 28-21; beat St. Viator, 37-7; beat Brother Rice, 28-13; beat Eisenhower, 61-14*; beat Glenbard North, 34-14*; beat Phillips, 24-8*; beat Willowbrook, 27-6* Nazareth’s road: beat Cardinal Ritter Prep (Mis-

souri), 1-0 (forfeit, lost 32-21 on the field); beat Curie, 25-0; beat Fenwick, 31-6; beat St. Laurence, 56-28; beat Leo, 51-8; beat De La Salle, 42-6; beat Marist, 39-29; beat Niles Notre Dame, 21-0; beat Benet Academy, 278; beat Libertyville, 47-6*; beat Thornton, 49-21*; beat Batavia, 38-24*; beat Rolling Meadows, 42-14 Distance to Huskie Stadium: Nazareth, 54 miles east; Mt Carmel, 80 miles east About the Caravan: Mt. Carmel is no stranger to playing in a title game, with a 12-5 all time record in championship games. Coach Jordan Lynch, in his second year, is in a title game for the first time.

About the Roadrunners: McCarthy, who has thrown for over 2,700 yards and 33 touchdowns, was 20-for-27 for 352 yards in a semifinal win over Rolling Meadows. All five of those TDs went to Tyler Morris, who caught nine passes for 229 yards in a spectacular aerial show. It’s the first meeting between the two programs as Naz seeks its fourth title.

Class 8A

Warren Blue Devils (13-0) vs. Lincoln-Way East Griffins (13-0) Warren’s road: beat Barrington, 16-6; beat Glenbard North, 26-6; beat Waukegan, 56-0; beat Libertyville, 34-0; beat Lake Forest, 37-0; beat Zion-Benton, 56-6; beat Lake Zurich, 24-3; beat Stevenson, 37-0; beat Mundelein, 42-0; beat Plainfield East, 49-7*; beat Fremd, 31-6*; beat Bolingbrook, 18-6*; beat Brother Rice, 28-0 Lincoln-Way East’s road: beat Stevenson, 30-7; beat Naperville Central 31-10; beat Bradley-Bourbonnais, 42-7; beat Bolingbrook, 20-10; beat Homewood-Flossmoor, 28-14; beat Lincoln-Way Central, 38-2; beat Lockport, 45-7; beat Sandburg, 40-0; beat Lincoln-Way West, 35-3; beat Plainfield South, 40-0*; beat Niles Notre Dame, 23-13; beat Homewood-Flossmoor, 26-7; beat Marist, 24-7 Distance to Huskie Stadium: Warren, 87 miles northeast; Lincoln-Way East, 71 miles southeast About Blue Devils: It’s the first meeting between two public schools in Class 8A since Stevenson beat Homewood Flossmoor, 31-25, in 2014 – LWE actually played both of those schools this season. It’s Warren’s first time playing for a title.

About the Griffins: Rob Zvonar is taking his fourth team to the state finals, having claimed titles in 2005 and 2017 and finishing in the runner-up position in 2012. Serving as the program’s only coach since the school instituted the program in 2001, Zvonar is one of the state’s all-time most successful coaches, currently winning at an 83% clip.

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IHSA FOOTBALL Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

Class 1A

5 beat LaSalle-Peru, 68-26*; beat Highland, 42-7*; beat Sacred-Heart Griffin, 49-25*; beat Mascoutah, 56-34* Distance to Huskie Stadium: St. Rita, 70 miles east; Rochester, 184 miles south About the Mustangs: Rita has two titles, with the first coming in 1978. The other was won in 2006 under current coach Todd Kuska, who has helmed the team since 1998.

About the Rockets: For all of Rochester’s success at the 4A level – seven state titles since 2010 – this is the first time they are playing a private school in the championship game. It’s also the Rockets first time playing at Class 5A.

Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

IHSA FOOTBALL

6 TEAM SPOTLIGHT: ST. RITA MUSTANGS

From the brink to the state championship game

By EDDIE CARIFIO

ecarifio@shawmedia.com CHICAGO – Losses to Richards, Loyola and Montini left the St. Rita football team in a position not many future state qualifiers find themselves, sitting 1-3 to start the year.

But the Mustangs’ players say they never stopped believing, and nine wins later they are heading to the Class 5A state championship game against Rochester.

“It feels great to trust the process and know we have each others’ backs,” said sophomore running back Kaleb Brown, who had four touchdowns in a semifinal win against Boylan – including a 91-yard touchdown return and an 88-yard run. “It just feels great, that’s all.”

Brown said the Mustangs knew they faced a brutal schedule to start. Richards (Class 6A) and Loyola (Class 8A) each made the quarterfinals, while Montini was coming off a second-place finish last year and made the second round of the Class 5A playoffs this year.

Not that the rest of St. Rita’s schedule was a pushover. Eight of the Mus-

Michael Krabbenhoeft – mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

St. Rita’s Kaleb Brown (left) runs the ball while Sterling’s Tyree Kelly attempts to tackle Brown during the third quarter of the game Nov. 23 in Sterling. tangs’ regular-season opponents this season finished with winning records.

“Coming into the season, we knew we had a tough schedule,” Brown said.

“But once we got those losses out the way, we knew we had to capitalize against the teams we knew we could beat. That just gave us momentum and

we came back solid.”

Junior running back and cornerback Kyle James had two touchdowns in the Mustangs’ 42-21 semifinal win against Boylan. He also made a diving interception in the second quarter to preserve a 14-7 lead at the time, a lead that grew to 35-7 in the third quarter.

“It feels amazing,” James said. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. We’ve been working all year for this. Back in the offseason we were training just for this. I think we trained harder than everybody else and that’s why we got to this point. We just came together as a team.”

James said the team listened to coach Todd Kuska and never felt that things were going to be easy.

“We always made sure to play with the underdog mentality at all times,” James said. “Stay hungry. Coach says ‘semper fi.’ That means you’ve got to stay hungry, you’ve got to stay the course. We just stayed hungry and stayed humble and it made things happen.”

It’s the first state trip since 2006 for the Mustangs, when they won the Class 7A title. They were Class 5A champs in 1978 as well.

Even though his team is loaded with underclassmen, Kuska said they don’t take anything for granted.

“It’s exciting for these guys. I feel great,” Kuska said. “You never know about the opportunities you get. If you don’t take advantage of them, they might never come back.”

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: ROCHESTER

Things familiar, but different for state power Rochester players celebrate as Morris players remain grounded after their 2017 IHSA state championship 4A football game on Nov. 24, 2017, at Huskie Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

Morris lost, 24-21.

By TRAVIS ZUELLIG

sports@daily-chronicle.com MASCOUTAH – If there were a team familiar with an IHSA State Championship football game, it would be Rochester.

Since 2010, the Rockets have been the most dominant football team in Class 4A, winning seven titles, including two in the past three years.

This season was a little different for Rochester, as it moved up to Class 5A and faced a different playoff field as the Rockets looked to continue their dominance. In the end, the class change didn’t slow the Rockets down, with Rochester rolling through the playoffs, including a 56-34 victory at Mascoutah on Saturday to reach the Class 5A Championship game.

“Everybody was saying we should step up and we have had to, and to be in a state championship, I told them that this was a big program thing,” said Rocket head coach Derek Leonard. “To prove to people 4A or 5A, our goal is to be state champs and that is what we wanted to do.”

Shaw Media file photo

Rochester’s dominance in Class 4A over the past decade has rarely been tested. The Rockets won five straight state championships starting in 2010 before losing their first playoff game of the decade in the quarterfinals against Althoff Catholic in 2015. Rochester took that loss

in stride as they won back-to-back championships in the following seasons.

During this period under Leonard, who has only missed the playoffs once in 15 seasons at Rochester, the Rockets went 101-9. The dominance continued during the 2018 sea-

son where Rochester took a 11-1 record into semifinal matchup with McNamara for a chance to reach a third straight title game. The Rockets fell, 52-42, to end their bid for a three-peat.

“It is going to be so exciting to go back there,” quarterback Clay Bruno said. “After missing it last year being a junior in that group and losing [in the semifinals], it means so much to be able to move on – not only for us, but to move on for those seniors last year, who we had a little bit failed.”

Rochester made the jump to Class 5A this season with a 770 enrollment, which was one more than Class 4A’s biggest school, Taylorville. The Rockets have continued to roll on regardless of the competition or enrollment.

“It will help because these kids have all been through it, especially the seniors and juniors,” Leonard said. “We are going to have to play at 10 a.m. and that is going to be a little different and now you have to spend the night and do things like that, but overall, it should be good.”

7 IHSA FOOTBALL Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

NIU BRINGS WORLD-CLASS ARTS EVENTS HOME Be the first to know about upcoming events and interesting stories:

go.niu.edu/artsblog

Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

IHSA FOOTBALL

8 TEAM SPOTLIGHT: NAZARETH

Griffin, Roadrunners hoping to make better memories

By JOSHUA WELGE

jwelge@shawmedia.com ROLLING MEADOWS – Marcus Griffin Jr. hasn’t forgotten his last game in DeKalb.

He’s back for a better memory.

Griffin, Nazareth’s senior linebacker, was a starter as a sophomore on the Roadrunners team that played at Huskie Stadium in the 2017 Class 6A final.

Nazareth lost to Prairie Ridge, 28-21, a pass into the end zone intercepted on the second-to-last play of the game.

“I remember more after the game than during the game, that bitter feeling of six seconds,” Griffin said. “Six seconds and we could have been state champions, but we weren’t. I remember how hard we worked so we’ll never feel that way again.”

Indeed, Nazareth returns to NIU on Saturday hoping to win its second straight Class 7A state championship, and fourth title since 2014. The Roadrunners are in the championship game for the fifth time in six years, and will play Mount Carmel at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Griffin, honorable mention All-

Shaw Media file photo

Nazareth’s Marcus Griffin (45) looks for blocking help as he runs the ball during their 2017 IHSA state championship 6A football game on Nov. 25, 2017, at Huskie Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

State and a Grand Valley State recruit, had 61 tackles going into the semifinal, second to Riley Theobald’s 69.

“It’s a credit to our coaching staff for preparing us, and our scout offense.

They get us in the right position,” Griffin said. “I’m convinced that our scout offense runs their offense better than

what [the opponent] does.”

Veteran Nazareth coach Tim Racki is well-versed in state championship games, both in DeKalb and Champaign.

This will be Racki’s ninth championship game, counting those he’s coached with Nazareth and Driscoll,

who he coached to four straight titles between 2001-2004.

“DeKalb is a closer ride, I’ve been at both,” said Racki, 7-1 in championship games. “What I like about DeKalb is the crowd is closer. It feels like it’s more filled up. At Memorial Stadium it’s so gigantic, even when you get a lot of people it feels like it’s empty.”

Racki’s Roadrunners entered the season with huge expectations.

Junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy, a Michigan recruit, is a five-star prospect. Tyler Morris, a sophomore wide receiver, is the state’s No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2021. Nazareth added talented transfers at wide receiver in Tanner Koziol and Landon Morris.

But Nazareth lost its season opener to Cardinal Ritter Prep, a game in which McCarthy threw four interceptions. Ritter has since had to forfeit the game for using an ineligible player, but the result fueled the Roadrunners.

“That Week 1 loss humbled us so much,” McCarthy said. “We don’t worry about rankings or anything because we worried about getting better every single day. We’re at this point now and we’re still not done yet.”

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: MT. CARMEL

Lynch hasn’t ‘thought about’ playing for title at NIU

By JAKE BARTELSON

jbartelson@shawmedia.com VILLA PARK – Mt. Carmel coach Jordan Lynch has plenty of personal history left on the Huskie Stadium turf in DeKalb.

As a starting quarterback for Northern Illinois from 2012-13, Lynch left the program with three single-game, 16 single-season and six career records.

He became a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, placing third, the highest finisher for a Mid-American Conference player in Heisman voting.

At 4 p.m. Saturday, he will return to that very field, albeit in a much different role. As the second-year head coach for Mt. Carmel, Lynch leads the Caravan into yet another state championship appearance. The Caravan reached the semifinals for the third consecutive season, and defeated Willowbrook, 27-6, on Nov. 23.

Lynch said his impending return to Huskie Stadium against defending Class 7A state champ Nazareth was something he hadn’t “really thought about.”

“I know they’re not going to give us

Jeff Krage for Shaw Media

Mount Carmel quarterback Justin Lynch drops back to pass during an IHSA class 7A state semifinal game at Willowbrook on Nov. 23. extra points on the scoreboard because I played there or anything like that,” Lynch said postgame about his return.

“It’s a football field. It’s a football field

that we we have to go play [on].”

Mount Carmel’s first play from scrimmage in the semifinal game was a 99-yard touchdown from quarter-

back Justin Lynch to wideout Jaali Parker for a stunning 6-0 lead with 6:59 left in the first quarter. The extra point was missed, but the Caravan ultimately ran away with the game, with the defense notching five sacks.

Caravan running back Kenenna Odeluga hadn’t forgotten Mt. Carmel’s recent past in the 7A semifinals.

“It means a lot because I was here two years ago when we lost to Lake Zurich,” Odeluga said after his two-touchdown, 161-yard semifinal performance. “I was here last year [against St. Charles North].”

Odeluga had a crucial fumble in overtime that was recovered by the North Stars. This year, however, he was determined to play with no regrets.

“I was going to do everything I can to help this team win,” Odeluga said.

For Caravan wideout Tony Livermore, the win that sealed Mt. Carmel’s return to the state final was “magical, to say the least.”

“I was on both of those teams,” Livermore said of the previous semifinal apperances. “It’s heartbreaking. It’s no worse feeling in the world.”

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: LENA-WINSLOW

By KALEB CARTER

kacarter@shawmedia.com KEWANEE – Lena-Winslow senior Ethan Gift was just a small-time player on the 2017 Lena-Winslow squad that won a state title at Northern Illinois’ Huskie Stadium, describing his primary role as a scout team player.

This season, the senior has played a vital, but relatively quiet role on a team full of standouts and all-state players that has reached the IHSA Class 1A state title game at 10 a.m. Friday. With the deserved hype surrounding Iowa commits Isaiah Bruce and Gennings Dunker, someone like Gift can fly under the radar.

His brother, Jerrid, was on the first Panthers’ team to win a state championship in 2010 when Gift was just in elementary school, and a love affair with football raged even hotter after that experience. Ethan wears No. 74, just like his brother did.

“I’ve always looked up to him,” Gift said. “… This means everything to me.”

The two-way lineman made note of the state semifinalist plaque that is

SM-CL1718182

Kaleb Carter – kcarter@shawmedia.com

Lena-Winslow’s Ethan Gift lays a block on Annawan-Wetherfield’s Drake VanHyfte as Marey Roby returns an interception. Ronnell Valentine (right, with cast), looks for someone to block. propped up in the Panthers’ weight room. That has motivated the Panthers since last year’s heartbreaking 34-28 loss to Forreston in the state semifinals.

“From the time this game got over last year, these guys were looking for-

ward to this year and so was I,” coach Ric Arand said. “I thought about it, I think, every day up until now.”

A 46-14 victory over Forreston on Oct. 11 showed the Panthers meant business.

First team all-state performers

Bruce and Sean Ormiston have played at a high level since the start of their varsity careers.

“Guys like Isaiah, guys like Sean [Saturday] was I think their 52nd varsity game of their careers,” Arand said.

Others, like Jennings, an honorable mention all-stater, make moving the ball an inevitability for a Panthers offense that has scored at least 44 points in every game but one this season. The 30 points allowed in the semis were a season high.

Despite two interceptions in LenaWinslow’s semifinal win, one from Marey Roby and another from Kade Chrisman, the Panthers surrendered 24 points in the second half. Chrisman also caught a first-half touchdown reception.

“We just didn’t really show up in the second half like we should have and what we would have liked,” running back Sean Ormiston said. “We just didn’t do our job right right away and we came together and finally did what we needed to do.”

• For information on Central A&M, check out the previews on page 5.

IHSA FOOTBALL Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

Lena-Winslow enjoying gift of one more week

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Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

IHSA FOOTBALL

10 TEAM SPOTLIGHT: RICHMOND-BURTON

Rockets looking to make school history

By JOE STEVENSON

joestevenson@shawmedia.com COAL CITY – Richmond-Burton’s players are well aware they can accomplish something that has never been done.

“R-B’s never had a 14-0 team,” Rockets nose guard Nick Ross said.

“We’ve been told that all this week.

It’s a fantastic feeling (playing for a state championship), especially after coming up a little bit short last year in the semis and being able to finish.

It’s fantastic.”

The Rockets’ 1992 team won a state title, 20-6, over Moweaqua Central A&M with an 11-3 record. R-B’s 2011 team finished 13-1, coming up short of Rochester, 42-39, for the Class 4A championship.

The Rockets (13-0) will try for perfection at 7 p.m. Friday against Murphysboro (11-2) for the 4A state championship at Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Stadium.

“It feels really good,” Rockets coach Mike Noll said. “I’m thankful. It’s not easy. I’m so proud of these kids. We’ve worked hard. We deserve this. We have a summer program and had 98% attendance. They’ve worked hard in the weight room, they’ve done everything we’ve asked. They’re a special group. They deserve it.”

R-B, the No. 2 seed in the northern bracket, defeated No. 1 Coal City, 30-0, on Saturday. The Rockets took complete control of what football fans around the state thought would be a tough, grind-it-out, even battle.

“We’re playing really good football right now,” Noll said.

The Rockets have six shutouts and have allowed only 80 points. Their offense is run-first, but has been more diverse this season with junior quar-

Joe Shuman for Shaw Media

Richmond-Burton’s Tyler Roberts (77) celebrates the touchdown to seal the game vs. IC Catholic in Class 4A Quarterfinal action on Nov. 16 at Richmond-Burton High School. terback Jacob Huber’s improvement.

Huber was 7 for 8 for 148 yards and a touchdown in the first half against Coal City.

“We couldn’t just pound it on them,” Noll said. “They’re a very good defense. We needed to be more balanced, especially in the first half.”

Noll, who is 248-73 in 30 seasons as a head coach, will make his first trip to a state title game.

He led successful programs at McHenry and Glenbrook South before taking the R-B job in the spring of 2018.

The Rockets have been to Noll’s first two semifinals.

“I’m just knowing how much of a successful coach he’s been and it feels amazing knowing he’s able to bring us to a state championship game,” Ross said.

• For information on Murphysboro, check out the previews on page 5.

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TEAM SPOTLIGHT: PRAIRIE RIDGE

By ALEX KANTECKI

akantecki@shawmedia.com DEERFIELD – Deerfield football coach Steve Winiecki called Prairie Ridge “the gold standard” after the Wolves ran away from the Warriors, 49-16, Saturday in the teams’ Class 6A northern bracket semifinal.

That’s not a bad assessment.

Deerfield was appearing in the state semifinals for the first time since 1990, while Prairie Ridge was making its fourth semifinal appearance in five years. The Wolves will look to continue their recent run of postseason dominance when they play for their third state championship in four years.

The Wolves (12-1) face their biggest test of the year when they meet East St.

Louis (13-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Stadium.

Prairie Ridge has claimed three state titles, all in the last decade: 2011, 2016 and 2017.

“Any time you make it to the state championship, it’s pretty exciting,” said coach Chris Schremp, who is 154-54 in 17-plus seasons at Prairie Ridge. “I’m especially thrilled for the seniors. A lot of them were on the sidelines as sophomores when we played Nazareth (in 2017).

“They got to see what it’s like, and they’re excited to get another shot. I remember a lot of those guys, especially [senior] Kyle Koelblinger, saying, ‘Alright, we have to go back. We have to do it again.’ It feels good to go back to NIU and compete again.”

The Wolves have history on their side.

Prairie Ridge has never lost a state championship game, beating Richwoods (3514), Sacred-Heart Griffin (48-17) and, most recently, Nazareth Academy (28-21).

East St. Louis, of course, is no stranger to postseason success.

The Flyers have eight state titles to their name with the most recent championship in 2016 (7A).

Prairie Ridge will have to figure out how to slow down the Flyers, who average over 51 points a game.

For now, the Wolves are just happy to be back.

“All season, I think we all knew there was something special about this team,” senior linebacker Sam Ripple said. “We were going to make this happen no matter what it took. We wanted to go back.

This week at practice, we all worked so hard to make it happen.”

Offensive lineman Riley Smith was a sophomore on the 2017 state champion.

Going back as a senior is a special feeling.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Smith said. “Senior year, this is it. This is our time.”

Koelblinger, who ran for 244 yards and five scores against Deerfield, is thrilled to get one more game.

“My mindset is I want to play one more time with my best friends,” Koelblinger said. “I love them to death, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to win. I’ve been playing with these guys for 10 years, and they’ve been my best friends forever. There is nothing I’d rather do than play one last game with them.”

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: EAST ST. LOUIS

Motivated Flyers searching for another state championship

By TRAVIS ZUELLIG

sports@dailt-chronicle.com EAST ST. LOUIS – Coming into the 2019 season, the East St. Louis football team would have to deal with more adversity than most high school teams after the death of two of their fellow Flyers this past offseason.

With the memory of their fellow teammates, the Flyers continued their undefeated season and punched their ticket into the IHSA Class 6A championship after securing a convincing 50-28 win over Chatham-Glenwood Nov. 23 at Clyde C. Jordan Memorial Stadium.

“This team is a special team. We have two guys that aren’t with us that these guys are playing for week in and week out,” East St. Louis head coach Darren Suckett said. “Two of our ball players

passed away this year and all we want to do is keep playing for those guys, and we want to win it for them. We feel like we have two angels watching over us and we are just going to keep doing what we are doing.”

In March, sophomore linebacker Jermaine Falconer died while at training in the high school weight room. Incoming freshman standout Jaylon McKenzie, who already was receiving college offers, died in May after being shot by a stray bullet. The Flyers take their fallen teammates with them every time they take the field with a sticker of remembrance on their helmets.

Despite the loss of two players, East St. Louis has hit the ground running this season and has never looked back, outscoring their opponents this season, 672176. Senior running back DaMonta

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Witherspoon has scored 31 rushing touchdowns this season, including four to lead the Flyers on Nov. 23. Quarterback Tyler Macon has led this high-powered offense with 3,615 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns this season.

The junior, who had a rushing touchdown in the Nov. 23 victory, said he is ready for the atmosphere of a state title game.

“It feels amazing from all of the hard work we have put in all season, but we have one more game for it to all come together,” Macon said. “I feel like it is going to be a regular game and I just can’t let the environment overwhelm me and just play my game.”

East St. Louis is very familiar with state championships as the Flyers have eight titles since their first 40 years ago.

Suckett has had plenty of success with

East St. Louis since taking over as head coach in 2002. The Flyers won the 2008 Class 7A Championship in Champaign in Suckett’s seventh season in charge.

Most recently, East St. Louis beat Plainfield North 26-13 in 2016 in Champaign. Current seniors lineman Tyreese Williams and wide receiver Lawaun Powell Jr. were freshman on that state title team. Suckett, who is looking for his third championship in three tries Saturday and his first in DeKalb, was pleased with is team and how they have come together this year.

“It feels really good, man. I am proud of my kids,” the coach said. “This team is resilient and they have been through a lot. They have stuck together as a family. This team and these coaches – I couldn’t be more proud of my boys right now.”

IHSA FOOTBALL Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

‘Gold standard’ Wolves looking to claim another title

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Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

IHSA FOOTBALL

12 TEAM SPOTLIGHT: WARREN

Stout Blue Devils defense ready for championship tilt

By SEAN HAMMOND

shammond@shawmedia.com GURNEE – Ask a Warren defender how this group keeps coming up with stellar defensive performances, and one word keeps showing up: practice.

The results on the field – 40 total points allowed in 13 games – are a consequence of the work put in when no one is watching.

“Every week, hard practices,” said defensive back Josh Turner. “We never let up. We always think about the worst, prepare for the worst.

Everything good is just a byproduct.”

Warren (13-0) will meet Lincoln-Way East (13-0) in the IHSA Class 8A state championship game at 7 p.m. at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb on Saturday.

Warren is playing in the state championship game for the first time in program history. The Blue Devils have been a perennial playoff team over the past two decades, but never advanced past the quarterfinals.

In a 28-0 semifinal win over Brother Rice, Turner ran back an 85-yard interception return.

Gregory Shaver for Shaw Media

Warren’s Josh Turner returns an interception for a touchdown during their IHSA Class 8A semifinal playoff football game against Brother Rice at Warren High School on Nov. 23 in Gurnee.

The win was Warren’s sixth shutout. No team has scored more than seven points against the Warren defense this year.

“We have a lot of experience, we have four three-year starters,” coach Bryan McNulty said. “We lift a lot of

weights in the offseason. The kids know our scheme and they’re just a prideful group. It’s a real big point of emphasis in our program. When our kids come in, they learn defense before anything else.”

Size helps, too.

At times, Warren will stack the box with so many big bodies it seems as if there’s almost nothing the offense can do.

Defensive tackle Willis Singleton is committed to play at Iowa State. He checks in at 6-foot-2, 285 pounds. He has a team-leading 14 sacks and 22 total tackles for loss.

“It starts in practice,” Singleton said. “It started in the offseason as well. We work hard, we grind every day. We just play hard. That’s what we say all the time: Play hard.”

Brother Rice drove inside the Warren 30-yard line four times in the first half of the semifinal game, but came away with no points.

“It’s just a good culture that we have,” McNulty said. “Those kids, they’ll bend, but they’re not going to break. We feel like if we can keep doing that enough, sooner or later we’re going to catch up to you.”

The Blue Devils will now test their defense against a high-powered Lincoln-Way East offense. The Griffins’ lowest-scoring game this year was 20 points in a 20-10 regular season win over Bolingbrook.

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: LINCOLN-WAY EAST

‘We did special things on that field two years ago’

By STEVE SOUCIE

ssoucie@shawmedia.com CHICAGO – Lincoln-Way East standout A.J. Henning smiled broadly when asked how he felt about returning to Northern Illinois’ Huskie Stadium for Saturday’s Class 8A State Championship game against Gurnee Warren.

“Last time we were there, I can still picture everything in my mind,” Henning, a Michigan recruit, said. “We did special things on that field two years ago and we’re looking to do it again.”

Henning, a sophomore standout at the time, had touchdown runs of 63 and 42 yards for the Griffins during their 23-14 victory over Loyola in the 2017 Class 8A Championship.

He and kicker Dominic Dzioban were the lone two Griffins that played substantially in that 2017 matchup at DeKalb, but other sophomores on the roster were a part of that team as well, and none of them have forgotten the experience of DeKalb.

Defensive end Sean McLaughlin, a Northwestern recruit, dressed for the contest but did not play in the game.

Geoff Stellfox for Shaw Media

Lincoln-Way East kicker and punter Dominic Dzioban celebrates with teammates after the team’s playoff win on Nov. 23 at Marist High School in Chicago.

He’s looking forward to being an active participant in this contest 7 p.m. Saturday, but fully recognizes the value of his first trip to DeKalb.

“Coach Z [Zvonar] tried to make it feel like a family, that we were all a part of it when we win,” McLaughlin

said. “There’s more pressure on us now as a senior class now, but we treat that pressure as an honor, doing what we have to do.”

Zvonar is taking his fourth team to the state finals, having claimed titles in 2005 and 2017 and finishing in the

runner-up position in 2012.

“We’re all fortunate to have the opportunity that we have. There are a lot better coaches than me that never get to this game,” Zvonar said. “It’s DeKalb again. And when we were there two years ago, things worked out pretty well. But we know we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Dzioban booted a 32-yard field goal in the victory over Loyola as well as a pair of extra points to go along with placing four punts inside the 20-yard line in the victory. Dzioban, who has signed to kick for one of Northern Illinois’ MAC foes, Miami of Ohio, relishes the chance to return to DeKalb, knowing that in future visits he might not be welcomed as warmly.

“All I remember about it last time was walking in and getting goosebumps,” Dzioban said. “The big crowd, the stadium. It was my first college football experience, and I knew from then on, I wanted to do that every weekend.”

“Also, NIU are the bad guys now,” he said with a laugh. “It won’t be the last time I play there. I’m looking forward to it, though.”

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: NEWMAN

By ERIC INGLES

eingles@saukvalley.com STERLING – Wishbone is Thanksgiving tradition, and no, not the kind that comes from a turkey that you can make a wish on.

Newman (12-1) will make its eighth trip to the state finals, this time in the Class 2A title game at 1 p.m. Friday against Nashville. Fans making the trek to DeKalb will see a lot of the Comets’ wishbone offense.

The current set has seniors Connor McBride and Kye O’Brien lined up with junior Andrew Velasquez behind quarterback Jacob Ackman. From that set, the Comets have a balanced attack; they can run left, right or up the middle. Velasquez and O’Brien are adept at pounding the ball straight up the middle. McBride, with a bit more speed, can pop to the outside to find lots of space.

“A lot of preparation goes into it,” McBride said. “Our scout team did a heck of a job this week preparing us for [semifinal opponent] Fieldcrest.

Obviously they couldn’t do an identical match, but they did as good a job as

Alex T. Paschal – apaschal@saukvalley.com

Newman’s Connor McBride breaks a tackle. they could, and that’s how we were able to come out and get the victory.”

In Newman’s 21-7 semifinal win against Fieldcrest on Saturday, the Comets ran 37 plays, not counting kneel-downs at the end of each half. All

but five were from the wishbone set.

Those types of plays have allowed Newman to churn out what the Comets refer to as ‘Blue Machine Football’ – play after play coming relentlessly until there is no time left on the clock.

In the Comets’ second-round win over Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, a Blue Machine drive ate the final 10 minutes off the clock.

“It works every year, why change it, right?” Velasquez said. “We’ve put a couple of new schemes in, but the wishbone’s always worked all year.”

Newman isn’t afraid to try other things on offense. Velasquez has thrown a couple of touchdowns on halfback passes this year. The Comets converted a long third down in the semifinal on a reverse out of the I-formation. They might even throw it once or twice.

But it all starts with the ground game.

“The biggest thing that gets Blue Machine drives in gear is our O-line,” Ackman said. “Our O-line blocks for four seconds every time. Our backs block hard and our backs hit the hole hard. They’re the reason we get those good passing plays is because we set up play-action because we run the ball so successfully.”

• For information on Nashville, check out the previews on page 5.

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IHSA FOOTBALL Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

Comets bringing the wishbone for post-Thanksgiving

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Daily Chronicle/Daily-Chronicle.com • Thursday, November 28, 2019

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14 TEAM SPOTLIGHT: BYRON

Tigers relishing shot at redemption ‘We’re not going there to get second place again’

By LENNY EISELE

sports@daily-chronicle.com PRINCETON – The Byron Tigers are getting another shot at the Class 3A state title after gutting out a tough 7-3 win over the Princeton Tigers.

Byron (12-1) lost to Monticello, 24-20, in last year’s title game, which adds to their hunger to win another one.

“It feels good,” Byron quarterback Ben Carlson said. “We’re going to celebrate, obviously, but last year, we went to state and we lost. This year, we just want to win it.”

Byron’s shot at redemption comes at 4 p.m. Friday against Williamsville (130) at Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Stadium.

“We’ve been there before and there’s one goal now and that’s to win it,” Byron coach Jeff Boyer said. “We’re not going there to get second place again.”

Carlson recognizes how rare an opportunity it is to have two chances at a state title.

“It’s amazing because you only have high school for four years and to have this opportunity twice, it means the whole world,” Carlson said.

Boyer doesn’t expect much to change as far as how they get ready for the game.

“We’re not going to change anything [from last year’s preparation],” Boyer said. “I thought we were pretty well-prepared. We just came up short against a good Monticello team. It’s nice having that experience and we’re a little ahead of the game.”

Carlson echoed his coach’s confi-

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Byron’s Ben Carlson celebrates the Tigers’ 7-3 win as time expires in the fourth quarter against Princeton in 3A semifinal action on Nov. 23. dence and believes the experience will help them.

“I feel like we’ll come in knowing a lot more stuff than we did,” Carlson said. “Last year, it was amazing experience, but this year, we know we want to win it all.”

One thing will change, though, as Byron will be playing the title game only 37 miles from home. Byron fans

had to travel 183 miles to cheer on their team last year, so Boyer expects a lot of support from the home crowd.

“It’s nice because we get almost a home game,” Boyer said. “I’m sure we’re going to travel well and get a lot of area people there.”

The return trip to the title game has been a memorable one for the players on this year’s team.

“I mean, I feel like I’m on top of the world right now,” Byron running back Drake Snodgrass said. “It’s a great feeling to be here with all my buddies, my best friends, my teammates. I just love them so much, so it’s amazing to be back here again.”

• For information on Williamsville, check out the previews on page 5.

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