Broncos' middle linebacker Smith wins twice

Alex Smith was a double winner Saturday.

The Barrington middle linebacker kept his high school career alive with a 21-14 victory in that evening's Class 8A state football playoff opener over St. Patrick.

In the afternoon, Smith's future destination, Central Michigan University, improved to 7-2 as the Mid-American Conference school snagged a big 37-34 win over Indiana from the Big Ten.

Smith's verbal commitment just before the regular season ended felt like a weight off his 6-foot-3, 230-pound shoulders.

"It felt completely different," Smith said of a 34-7 win over Conant in Week 9. "It felt like I could go out and play and I didn't have to prove anything to anyone. I had a great time."

Smith said he had scholarship offers from all the MAC schools, Wyoming, Air Force and Army. Big Ten schools such as Illinois, Purdue and Wisconsin were also showing interest but with a wait-and-see approach.

But Smith's plans were affected by what happened a two years ago to Daily Herald All-Area linebacker Nick Magiera, who saw some early offers fade away and others never materialize before going to Fordham, where he is now a starting inside linebacker.

"It was really stressful," Smith said. "(Big Ten schools) told me to wait and wait and there was a lot more pressure from Central and the MAC schools.

"I said, 'What if my spot got filled at one of the MAC schools? Would I be happy being a walk-on at one of the (bigger) schools.'

"I had a lot of talks with (coach Joe) Sanchez and he kept saying, 'Alex, you need to hurry up, you need to hurry up.'

"I started to see spots being filled and the class at Central only had a few spots left so I felt I needed to take this chance."

Central Michigan, which is trying to win the MAC title and play in a bowl game for the third straight year, envisions Smith as a weakside or middle linebacker in its 4-3 defense. Smith, who has a 3.0 grade point average and scored 27 on the ACT, plans to study education and would love to coach in college.

Smith missed a 42-41 overtime loss to Fremd because of a deep thigh contusion and sprained MCL in his left knee suffered against Schaumburg. But Smith is back at full strength and hoping to keep Barrington rolling when it travels to New Trier for a second-round game at 6 p.m. Saturday.

"Brad Jackson did a great job of filling in Week 8 but Alex is Alex," Sanchez said of his return. "Alex is special and he helps to bring everybody up to a different level."

Defense leads return home: Schaumburg came into the playoffs allowing the most points of anyone in the 256-team field at 31.6 a game. First-round opponent Glenbrook South's 41.2 scoring average was second-best in 8A to Maine South.

But the Saxons' defense picked the perfect time produce its top performance of the year as it held on for a 20-16 victory and will host Warren at 7 p.m. Saturday.

"I had a lack of words (Saturday) night and I'm still at a lack of words," Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling said Sunday night. "The effort was unbelievable."

Particularly on fourth down where the Saxons stopped the Titans five times. Earlier this year they couldn't stop Fremd on seven fourth-down tries.

"The fourth-down plays were obviously huge," Stilling said. "Especially early I thought we played well on first and second down and put them in some predictable situations."

Senior linebacker Alex Coglianese had 19 tackles and Stilling said linebacker Jordan Hailey "was out of his mind and played by far his best game." The front four of Nick Novak, Dan Malik, Alex Monzon and Matt Hutchison with junior Ed Zawilla rotating in had their best game.

"We couldn't ask for more from the front eight," Stilling said of linebackers Anthony Giannelli and Patrick Derbak helping allow only 109 yards rushing on 44 carries.

The Saxons will hope for more again as they became only the second Mid-Suburban League team to enter the playoffs at 5-4 and win a playoff game. Rolling Meadows went from 5-4 to the 7A semifinals in 2004.

And the other two playoff teams allowing more than 30 points a game this year didn't fare as well as Schaumburg. Freeport (30.8) lost 63-29 to Nazareth in 5A and Lake Forest (30.2) lost 39-14 to Lemont in 6A.

Secondary to none: The solid play of Fremd's secondary, coached by former Palatine standout Bob Hanson, was evident in nearly shutting out its high-powered cross-town rival in Friday's 24-7 victory.

There were 5 interceptions - 3 by Mike Tauchman, a 64-yard touchdown return by Zenon Kolakowski and a crucial juggling grab by cornerback turned linebacker Chris Doloughty at the Fremd 7 to preserve a 3-0 lead 1:40 before halftime.

But Eric Shew also broke up 3 passes and Tauchman, Cameron Radis and defensive tackle Jeff Bobek had pass breakups. James Szafranski was also a big part of the last line of Fremd's defense.

"It was great to play this well against an offense that has put up so many points," Doloughty said of holding Palatine to 181 total yards and minus-9 rushing. "We have a new sense of confidence, especially in our front four."

Doloughty said relentless defensive end Ben Perna "played amazing" and put persistent pressure on Palatine's Matt Rossi. Dane Keelan and John Josif upfront and linebackers Jon Diegel and Chris Waslik also brought their share of heat.

"I thought everybody played unbelievable and our confidence level is so high right now," Doloughty said. "The first time we played them (28-21 loss) they had 28 points in the first 15 minutes. Even with Barrington we felt we played good but (Friday) everyone was more on the same page."

Back with back-to-back: After ending a 10-year postseason drought, Palatine showed its program is back with consecutive appearances and a share of the MSL West title with Fremd.

"That's what our goal was, to put Palatine High School back on the map," said senior receiver Jose Munoz, who capped a breakout year with 10 catches for 134 yards Friday. "I just hate to see this (ending) happen."

Munoz was one of the big beneficiaries of a stellar finish to the three-year career of quarterback Matt Rossi.

"Overall these kids have done an excellent job of making Palatine football known again," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly. "Matt never missed a game, never missed a practice and never missed a play. That's pretty impressive."

Quick kicks: Wheeling quarterback Matt Holmes finished his high school career in style as he tied the school record for touchdown passes in a game with five in Friday's 45-33 7A loss at Carmel. Jeff Hengels also had 5 TD passes against Fremd in 1990 - Three teams advancing from the MSL West in one season is only the third time in league history a trio has made it to the second round of the playoffs. The East had Buffalo Grove, Hersey and Prospect in 2002 and the old North in 1994 had BG, Palatine and Wheeling - Defending 8A champ Naperville North is the only DuPage Valley Conference team to make the second round. It's only the second time (2005) that's happened since 1986 - Kudos to Fremd director of football operations Mike Brown for putting together a 16-page information packet for Friday's playoff game with Fremd.