Driscoll better than ever vs. IVC
The goal of getting better is a simple concept for most teams. For Driscoll it almost seems impossible.
Consider it the blessing and the curse of being a six-time defending state football champion.
Saturday in Addison the Highlanders looked every bit the favorite to win their seventh straight title, rolling to a 42-7 victory over Illinois Valley Central to advance into the Class 4A quarterfinals.
Top-seeded Driscoll (11-0) will play Saturday night's winner between Chicago Christian and Mendota.
"It's always about getting better," said Driscoll senior Kevin Palermo. "We had to get our job done offensively and defensively, and come out there and execute."
Driscoll scored on all five of its first-half possessions and added David Schwabe's 101-yard interception return for a touchdown to build a 42-0 lead. The entire second half was played with a running clock with few Driscoll starters seeing any action.
Schwabe completed 10 of 13 passes for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns. Palermo and Joey Calabrese caught the scoring passes, and Tim Franken ran for touchdowns on 3 of his 10 carries.
"We just wanted to take what they were giving us and move the ball," said Driscoll coach Mike Burzawa. "We didn't want to come out too emotional, just let the game come to us."
Eighth-seeded IVC (8-3) put together two solid first-half drives behind the running of Jake Elias, who had 23 carries for 97 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown. The first drive ended at Driscoll's 7-yard line on a missed field goal. The Grey Ghosts again worked the ball to the Highlanders' 7 late in the half, but Schwabe's epic interception return boosted the lead to 35-0.
IVC fumbled on its next play from scrimmage, allowing Driscoll to score a second touchdown in the final 1:37 of the half.
Driscoll's win was a bit of revenge for its Class A state semifinal baseball loss to the Grey Ghosts in 2006. Several senior football players -- including Schwabe, Palermo, Adam Davis and Anthony Campanella -- were contributing sophomores on that baseball team.
"I saw their baseball coach on the sideline when we came in and I was like, 'Oh man, here we go again,' " Schwabe said with a laugh. "I've been waiting to get them for a while. I had a bad taste in my mouth for a while, so it was good to get it out."