Can Montini bounce back?

As Montini enters the Class 5A playoffs against No. 15 seed Sycamore, the enormity of the Broncos' Week 9 loss should not be exaggerated.

Unbeaten Driscoll, which edged Montini 13-7, is a six-time defending state champ, a 4A superpower that would welcome 6A competition.

Lost in the wake of last Saturday's Suburban Catholic Conference game was that Montini's defense, which came in allowing 189 yards per game, kept Driscoll 1,000-yard tailback Tim Franken to 34 yards on 17 carries.

Franken had averaged 10 yards a carry until he encountered Garrett Goebel, Dan Grimes, John McMahon, Nick Gianfortune and Co.

To paraphrase Goethe, what killed Montini (8-1) could make it stronger.

Driscoll's defensive game plan -- and to some extent the wind -- took away quarterback Tom DiCristina's passes to the perimeter, primarily to Johnny Borsellino.

The problem, No. 2 seed Montini coach Chris Andriano said afterward, was a failure to adjust.

"So we've got to go back to the drawing board and hopefully figure some things out because other teams, they're not going to be stupid," he said.

Whether that means more handoffs to 220-pound Dex Jones is for Andriano and offensive coordinator Lewis Borsellino to decide.

Sycamore, 5-4 overall and 3-3 against playoff teams, will not be intimidated after playing a Western Sun Conference schedule including playoff teams Batavia, Rochelle, Glenbard South and 9-0 Geneva.

It's also likely the Spartans, who averaged 25 points a game but gave up 21, haven't seen an offensive line quite as stout as that of Montini.

Losing to Driscoll brings no shame. Montini's leaders will do well seeing it not as a black cloud but as a learning tool in their hunt for the program's first Class 5A playoff win in its third appearance, and 15th straight overall playoff berth.

"They're not going to allow themselves to tuck their tails and feel sorry for themselves," Andriano said. "That's going to help in preparation. We'll be ready."