Saxons' satisfaction isn't completed yet

There are few things more satisfying than achieving what almost no one else believed was possible.

Because there weren't many people outside of Schaumburg football's inner circle who figured they would be playing - much less winning - in November.

But here were the Saxons on a cold and windy Saturday evening for only their second game of the year on their new turf at Gary Scholz Stadium.

And a thorough 55-21 dismantling of Warren, which lost only to Maine South in its first 10 games, will have the Saxons back home again Saturday for a Class 8A state quarterfinal against unbeaten Bartlett.

Not bad for a team that entered the postseason 5-4 and was picked by many - including fifth in this space - to finish near the bottom of the Mid-Suburban West.

"We've worked so hard all year," said Schaumburg senior receiver Josh Spandiary, who bounced back from a tough first-round game with 5 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. "Everyone picked us last in the conference, but we knew what we can do and we want to prove everyone wrong."

The Saxons made those points loud and clear Saturday against a Warren defense that had allowed only 48 points with 2 shutouts in its last five games.

Senior quarterback Anthony Iannotti continued his amazing year with another incredible night by rushing for 202 yards and throwing for 170. He even caught a 25-yard touchdown from his brother Mark on a lateral play installed this week.

Sophomore Shepard Little ran wild again with 227 yards. The line of Mike Scolire, Bill Abruzzo, John Mejia, Craig Cruz and Richard Barnes - none of whom weighs more than 225 pounds - paved the way to a staggering 641 yards.

"When we get on a roll we don't think anyone can stop us," Spandiary said.

What's changed is now the Saxons have stopped Glenbrook South and Warren when it mattered in the playoffs. They've given up yards but only 37 total points.

"We've just finally played as a unit," said senior linebacker Jordan Hailey. "It's been in us the whole way."

Alex Coglianese, Matt Hutchison and Perrish Bell had interceptions. Safety Trevor Henry was delivering bone-crunching hits and Nick Novak had a big stop on a goal-line stand capped by Mike Valenti's end-zone pass breakup.

"We all had faith in ourselves," Coglianese said of a defense that was ranked last of all 256 playoff teams at 32 points allowed a game. "I try to tell our defense, 'It's the playoffs, it's a whole new season.'"

One the confident Saxons believe is far from over.

"I always thought it was a possibility, and we've been waiting so long for this," Hailey said of the school's third quarterfinal trip and first since 1999. "Once you get to the playoffs you have to keep going. You can't be satisfied."

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com