A classic battle right to the final yard

How fitting it was for this cross-town classic come down to three feet.

Fremd had battled valiantly out of a 21-point hole after just 10 minutes. Palatine had battled valiantly to preserve its touchdown lead in the final nine minutes.

All the thrilling plays and moments that electrified nearly 6,000 fans at Palatine's Chic Anderson Stadium had come down to a mere yard in the final two minutes Friday night. The year of wide-open offenses in the Mid-Suburban League had now boiled down to Fremd and Palatine battling over this small piece of real estate.

Fremd junior quarterback Zenon Kolakowski, who rotates in for some snaps with Mike Tauchman, took the ball and started toward the end zone.

"I didn't even know what was going on," said Palatine senior defensive lineman Brock Tenca. "I was at the bottom of the pile, but then I heard (linebacker Ryan) Cortez and (linebacker Steve) Korus and everyone screaming and yelling."

Palatine players, coaches and fans celebrated deliriously as junior Joe Pelnar had stuffed Kolakowski a yard short with 1:11 to play.

The Pirates had made their last stand to preserve a 28-21 victory that ended Fremd's 21-game MSL West winning streak and produced a four-way tie atop the division with Barrington and Conant.

"This was our goal since freshman year," Korus said after the Pirates snapped a 7-game losing streak to Fremd. "The goal-line stand showed we really took it to heart."

There were plenty of heart-racing moments from the beginning. Interceptions by Jimmy LaCapra and Jamie Silveira helped Palatine score 3 touchdowns in the first 10 minutes.

But everyone knew it wasn't going to be that easy against a program that isn't billed "Iron Will" just because it sounds catchy.

"Since we're rivals we're always guaranteed a tough game," Tenca said.

"You can't let Fremd hang around," Korus said. "They aren't a team that's going to quit."

After getting rocked for 4 touchdowns in the first 15 minutes, the Vikings pitched a shutout the rest of the way. Mike Tauchman was pitching the ball all over the place for a school-record 382 yards and Andrew Corso was showing big-time hands with circus catches en route to a school-record 247 yards.

"He's a gamer and he comes to play every game," Tauchman said of Corso. "He makes my job a lot easier."

But Palatine's defense did its best to make it tougher. Steve Temple helped turn back one drive to its 16 in the third quarter.

The Pirates stopped another potential tying drive a yard short at their 11 with six minutes left.

"I sensed in practice the defense was due for a good, solid game," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly.

They were rock solid when the game was a yard away from the goal line.

"It was great," Korus said.

"We took it to heart, too," Tenca said. "All you read about is the offense, but this made a statement to other teams that defensively we're not messing around."

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com