Scouting St. Edward at Chicago Uplift
Class 4A
No. 9 St. Edward (7-2) at No. 8 Chicago Uplift (7-2)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday at Lane Tech H.S.
Last week: St. Edward def. Wheaton Academy, 22-10; Chicago Uplift def. Manley, 6-0.
Playoff history: The Titans are in the playoffs for the first time in the program's five-year history. The Green Wave enter the playoffs for the second straight year and the fourth time overall. Each program seeks the first playoff victory in its history.
Coaches: Mike Rolando, St. Edward; Rick Alboyd, Uplift.
Fast facts: A victory would guarantee St. Edward a home game next week. The Wave have never hosted an IHSA playoff game. St. Edward scored 30.1 points per game while allowing an average of 11.
St. Edward leaders: Rushing: Maurece Jackson, 101 carries for 733 yards and 7 touchdowns; Jon Keokanlaya, 63 carries for 475 yards, 5 touchdowns. Passing: Ben Lehman, 84 of 164 for 1,429 yards and 12 touchdowns. Receiving: Sam Pozezinski, 22 receptions for 462 yards and 6 touchdowns; Mark Olenek, 23 receptions for 365 yards, 2 touchdowns. Tackles:
Uplift leaders: Rushing: Jamal Carter, 105 carries for 886 yards and 9 touchdowns. Passing: Jameel Carter, 43 of 82 for 592 yards and 6 touchdowns. Receiving: Darnell Slaughter, 13 receptions, 268 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tackles: Jamal Carter, 152.
Line on St. Edward: The Green Wave go for the first playoff victory in school history at venerable Lane Tech Stadium. Last season, the team went for broke just to make the playoffs. The 2009 squad was so beaten up by playoff time two linemen dressing for the first time in a varsity game were forced to start. This year, St. Edward enters the postseason healthy and raring to go. “Everybody's healthy,” St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. “We just need to continue to do what we've done all year. We need to fix what we did wrong last week as far as penalties and play consistent football. It's a little more laid-back attitude than last year when I think we were just happy to get (to the playoffs).”
Line on Uplift: The Titans have forged a 30-16 record in their five-year existence, all under the direction of Alboyd. They tied Collins for the Chicago Public League's Second City Conference title. Making the playoffs is a milestone for the prep school, which is part of the Renaissance 2010 project by CPS. “We actually have a young, young team,” Uplift coach Rick Alboyd said. “I'm just proud of the guys for making it this far. It's going to be an experience this week.” The Titans will try to use their speed to get to the outside. “They've got a couple of kids that are probably faster than anybody we've got,” Rolando said. “If a kid like that breaks contain or we don't follow our disciplines on defense and fly to the ball like we normally do, a couple of these guys can get to the end zone in one play. We've been pretty good at playing a bend-don't-break style of defense. That mentality needs to hold true or these guys could easily break some long runs and score points quick.”
Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner of today's 7 p.m. game between No. 16 Mendota (5-4) at No. 1 Rockford Christian (9-0)