March to Champaign started early for IC
Immaculate Conception's football players know the biggest game of the season is the one they haven't played yet - Friday's Class 2A championship game against Casey-Westfield.
The most important game? That'd be Sept. 19, Week 4, when the Knights beat Marian Central 14-7.
"We had to beat them, and then we'd have a shot getting in," said senior Paul Hornstra, whose 1,397 yards rushing combines with junior Carlos Rodriguez's 1,422 yards rushing to challenge 13-0 Westfield's 4-4 defense that's pitched seven shutouts and has allowed just 516 yards on the ground.
A Suburban Catholic Conference schedule that includes the "Big Three" of Montini, Driscoll, Marian - St. Francis made it a Big Four - plus a nonconference schedule of Aurora Christian and Walther Lutheran means two things: It's extremely tough for IC to reach the playoffs; and if they do, they're incredibly tested.
With Aurora Christian shooting for its own state title on Friday in Class 4A, and Walther Lutheran also a playoff team, as usual those first two games were no easy pickins'.
"If we lose those two, that just puts us in a huge hole," Hornstra said. "That just kills us."
The Knights had Aurora Christian on the ropes before falling 22-12 but came back to defeat Walther 25-7.
"One-and-one is better than 0-2," Hornstra said.
IC (9-4) enjoys greater depth than usual this year, but the Knights are often one injury away from demise.
"In our situation, if you lose the starting quarterback for the entire year," Knights coach Bill Schmidt said, "you get your quarterback from the junior varsity and rebuild for next year."
That happened against Walther Lutheran last year, when current quarterback Will Cronin, at the time a small, green sophomore, was forced into action when Kevin Koch suffered a season-ending injury.
"A lot of things have to fall into place for us to get where we're at," Schmidt said. "That's why we cherish it, and why it's special and we're excited."
There are many reasons for the excitement in Elmhurst. The first-team defense has allowed 12 points in four playoff games while the offense, a grind-it-out, ball-control unit during the regular season, has exploded for 178 points, including the 52-14 semifinal win over Clifton Central.
Illinois High School Association records provide no means of verification, but Schmidt was told this is the first time in history a team has secured a running clock in its first four playoff games.
Such laughers tempt a lack of respect for future opponents. The Knights have resisted the temptation.
"We come in with the same attitude week in and week out so far in the playoffs," said senior lineman Matt Purdom. "We've watched each opponent on film and respected what they can do.
"When it comes down to it, the only team that can beat us is ourselves."
Like Purdom's focus on proper blocking technique, the elements of success remain the same against Casey-Westfield, which, like IC, has one state title already under its belt.
"We can't turn the ball over," Schmidt said. "We have to be able to run the football. Time of possession needs to be in our favor. We can't make any costly mistakes in the kicking game, and we can't give up big plays.
"If we force them to make 10 plays to get down the field I think we're going to be in good shape."