Schaumburg handling plenty of adversity

Adversity seems to have been a constant companion for Schaumburg football this year.

But last week's 30-28 Mid-Suburban League crossover victory at Hersey typified how the Saxons are dealing with a variety of tough situations this season.

"It was encouraging that we were able to refocus at halftime," said Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling, "rather than worry about the obvious momentum shift in the second quarter."

That shift was a 21-point avalanche led by quarterback Steve Nelson that gave Hersey a 28-20 lead. But senior safety Mike Valenti, who missed the first two games because of injury, returned and stopped another potential drive that could have put the Saxons behind by two scores.

"That was probably a game-changing play - he comes out of nowhere to make that interception," Stilling said. "That was a huge play by Michael.

"We went in saying we wanted to limit Michael's reps. But when Trevor Henry injured his shoulder we said, 'Mike, how do you feel' and he said 'I want to play' and that's what he did. He's a great leader and a gamer."

Schaumburg quarterback Anthony Iannotti also rebounded from a shoulder injury in the win over Wheeling. Despite limited practice time he was 20-for-25 passing for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns.

"The key for Anthony is he's got to stay relaxed and stay within the scheme of what we're trying to do," Stilling said. "It's good to see him healthy."

And leading the 2-1 Saxons into tonight's MSL crossover with Prospect at their home away from home for a little longer at Conant. They hoped to finally play on their new home field turf next week with Fremd but a construction mishap last Friday forced that game to be moved to 1:30 p.m. next Saturday at Conant.

Schaumburg pushed back its homecoming to Oct. 17 in the hopes it can actually be at home when it plays Conant.

"We're trying to focus on the things we can control," Stilling said. "The biggest thing is it doesn't change the way we need to approach the task at hand."

The Saxons also had to deal with not having Valenti and starting safety Alex Coglianese in the opener with Maine South, the state's No. 1-ranked Class 8A team Associated Press, and Vanderbilt-bound quarterback Charlie Goro. And the night before the Wheeling game former player Joe Ziegler, who started for the Saxons two years ago, was shot and killed.

Baxter blaster: Buffalo Grove will need another big game from senior and three-year varsity starter Alan Baxter when it travels to face unbeaten Barrington in tonight's MSL crossover. Baxter had 8 solo tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery and kept the pressure on in last week's 24-7 win over Hoffman Estates.

"It was a great coming-out for him to do things like he knows he's capable of doing," said first-year BG coach Jim Farrell of Baxter, who also saw significant time in the right tackle rotation. "He's a very unselfish guy for us right now and he'll do whatever it takes for the team to be successful."

And Baxter is part of the tone-setter for a group that has also had solid play from running mate John Pischak up front, linebackers Kyle Czarnecki and Jake LeClair and defensive back Steve Miller.

"Defense is really going to carry this football team," Farrell said. "I've said all along, even though I'm an offensive coach I love to have the defense we have here. They're very aggressive and physical."

The matchup also has an interesting sidelight with Rich Roberts, who retired last season after 18 years as BG's head coach, and BG grad and former assistant Mike Staudt now working as assistants at Barrington.

Nelson making an impression: Palatine hopes to prevent Hersey junior quarterback Steve Nelson from duplicating last week where he passed for 212 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 129 yards and 3 touchdowns against Schaumburg.

"He's an athlete," said Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling. "I think he throws a good ball and he's even better at carrying the ball than I thought he was."

Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly certainly got an eyeful watching Nelson on film.

"He's got a good arm and seems to be pretty much their whole offense," Donnelly said. "Everything runs through him.

"We have to take him out (of the game). We have to wrap him up because he's an extra-effort guy with a lot of talent."

Running for the record books: People glancing at scores in newspapers or the IHSA Score Zone last weekend probably thought it was a typographical error or some computer hacker was playing a joke with the Niles West-Niles North score.

But it was no joke when Niles North won the fifth-highest scoring game in IHSA history 64-63 on a 2-point conversion with 15 seconds left at Niles West.

"That's what most people thought," laughed Niles North coach and former Prospect, St. Viator and Hersey assistant Scott Smith of it being a basketball score. "(Maine South coach Dave) Inserra called me at home Sunday and said, 'Smitty, is that score correct?'"

The game fittingly started with Terry Turner returning the opening kickoff 93 yards for a score and Mike Granato throwing a touchdown pass in the closing seconds to lead Niles North to a pair of firsts - a win at Niles West and wins in consecutive years over its District 219 rival.

Three of the four highest-scoring games in IHSA history took place this decade - Freeport Aquin-Pearl City (152 points in 2002), Jacobs-Larkin (133 in 2007) and Carmel-Marian Catholic (128 in 2006). Niles West scored the second-most points in a loss.

And it was the first time two running backs had more than 400 yards in the same game as Turner had 401 on 37 carries and Niles West's Leonard Panion rushed for 425 yards on 36 carries. Each player scored 6 touchdowns.

"There wasn't a lot of defense being played but those are two outstanding backs who made the night electric," Smith said. "It was a fun, fun game. It was nerve-racking but it was great for our kids and this program."

It was also a memorable way to start what is billed the "Skokie Skirmish" and the first year there is a traveling trophy for the Central Suburban League crossover.

Amazingly enough, Niles North was shutout in its opener by Leyden.

Go for the win: A driving rain leading to some kicking-game issues for both teams and being on the road helped Leyden coach Tom Cerasani decide to go for 2 points and the win after Eric Bolanos' touchdown run in the third overtime of last week's 21-20 loss at Hinsdale South.

"I said, 'Let's try to end this thing," Cerasani said. "They guessed right and we guessed wrong and we got stuffed."

Then on Sunday, Cerasani watched as East Leyden grad and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan went for two in the final minute and pulled off a dramatic 39-38 victory over the Chargers.

"I figure if it's good enough for Shanahan it's good enough for us," Cerasani said with a laugh. "That made me feel better watching that game.

"Of course, he made it. He would have gotten a lot more grief than I did if he missed it."

Quick kicks: Former Palatine star George Kaider got his first victory at Pekin's head coach 27-19 over Bartonville Limestone in Week 2. Pekin is 1-2 and faces defending 5A state champion Metamora tonight - Fremd coach Mike Donatucci got his 110th win last week and now needs six to pass Conant's Dave Pendergast for the most victories at an MSL school or schools - The West is 9-3 against the East after the first two rounds of MSL crossovers.