Stand defines Pirates' return

Palatine's defining moment arrived with 3½ minutes to play Friday night.

Mighty Mt. Carmel had a fourth-and-goal with the Pirates' defense backed up just 3 yards from their end zone.

It was a chance for the Pirates to make a statement against one of the premier high school programs in the state before a full house at Chic Anderson Stadium.

And juniors Jack Hansen and Ryan Cortez and senior Nick Gatorano made one as part of a big surge that stuffed Edwin Williams a yard short.

Unfortunately for the Pirates, this wasn't going to change the outcome against the 10-time state champions. Any doubt there had long been removed as the undefeated Caravan rolled to a 34-0 victory on a beautiful early November evening.

Fortunately for the Pirates, this showed how much change has taken place for a program that made a triumphant return to the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

"That's basically what Palatine football is all about," said senior running back Dan Sutton.

"No letup, no letup," Hansen said. "That's Palatine football right there. No letup."

And there was absolutely no reason for anyone to feel let down about what happened Friday night.

Mt. Carmel's Tim Brown looked more like Jim Brown as he raced to touchdown runs of 88 and 92 yards and sped 90 yards to the end zone with a kickoff return to start the second half.

"Their speed is so good," Hansen said. "They're a heck of a team."

Junior quarterback Jordan Lynch showcased his ability to not only run the Caravan's vaunted option but throw a little bit, too.

The Pirates did gain 298 total yards but four trips inside the Caravan 25 -- including two in the first half -- came up empty.

"They handed it to us," Sutton said. "But we made them earn every inch."

Which is miles from just a year ago when the Pirates lost their last 6 games and finished 2-7.

And the tough part wasn't so much the loss but the end of a special time that started in late May.

"It's finally over," Sutton said. "What we've done for this program, the seniors, is beyond belief."

Working hard and setting a tone for their predecessors.

"This was a great group to coach," said third-year Palatine boss Tyler Donnelly. "I don't know if I've had more fun coaching or playing than with this group.

"That (goal-line stand) is why they didn't win on the scoreboard, but they're winners. They're the first group to get this program back to where it used to be."

Which was in the playoffs before electric full houses at home for 12 straight years from 1986-97.

Getting back there wasn't easy as the Pirates started 1-2 with two heartbreaking losses and were 3-3. Then they got on a huge roll that included a first-round playoff romp at Lane Tech.

And people responded.

The hand-made signs of support all along Rohlwing Road from Palatine Road north to the school is a scene you'd expect in small downstate towns.

"It was such an exciting time for this school and this community," Donnelly said.

"It was amazing," Sutton said. "I noticed once we started winning the school had so much spirit."

The Pirates figure to keep that excitement growing with guys such as Cortez, Hansen and quarterback Matt Rossi returning. The sophomores finished 8-1.

"They're going to keep rolling … and it's going to be a long playoff run," Sutton said.

"It felt great just to get Palatine on the right track," Hansen said. "It gives us momentum for next year to want even more."

That's why that final stand and drive against the clock that ended at Mt. Carmel's 20 figures to mean a lot in the years to come.

"We base ourselves on pride," Sutton said. "The goal-line stand said a lot about our program. We're always going to go down swinging."