Another Meadows-Prospect biggie has high stakes
There have usually been high stakes the last decade when Rolling Meadows and Prospect have met in football.
Their matchup to end the regular season at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Prospect's George Gattas Stadium is no exception.
Meadows (6-2, 4-0) already has clinched a share of the Mid-Suburban East title and a seventh straight playoff berth. But senior quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo made it clear after Friday's 26-19 win over Buffalo Grove he wanted more.
"We want the conference championship," Garoppolo said of the desire to win it outright. "That's what it's all about."
It will also be a showcase of two of the state's top quarterbacks in Garoppolo and Miles Osei of Prospect (7-1, 3-1), which is looking to get a share of the East.
Meadows coach Doug Millsaps also had a bigger picture in mind as he recalled the 2005 season finale and a 10-7 loss at Prospect.
"Obviously we'd like to win it outright," Millsaps said, "but one thing I won't make a mistake on - is we put a huge premium on winning that game and never recovered for the playoffs (48-14 first-round loss to Libertyville).
"We don't want to do that. That game (Friday) takes care of itself."
The same will be true of Friday's MSL West cross-town showdown when Palatine (7-1, 3-1) visits Fremd (8-0, 4-0). Schaumburg (5-3, 3-1) could also get a share of the crown if Palatine wins.
And there's a potential three-way title tie scenario in the East if Prospect beats Meadows and BG (5-3, 3-1) beats visiting Elk Grove (5-3, 2-2). More important in that matchup is the winner is in the playoffs but the loser may not have enough playoff points to make the 256-team field.
Leyden's big catch: Adam Bielech didn't find the end zone Friday but played a big role in Leyden's 14-10 win over Lyons.
Bielech caught 5 passes for 70 yards as the Eagles officially clinched a playoff berth at 6-2 and beat Lyons for the first time since 1999.
"Some of the catches he made were unbelievable," said Leyden coach Tom Cerasani. "And in big situations, too."
A win Friday at Addison Trail could give Leyden a shot at a home playoff opener. It would also be the program's second-best season since East and West Leyden combined athletic programs in 1981.
The Eagles were 9-2 in 1998 and lost by a point when a 2-point conversion run in the last minute was stopped inches short in a second-round playoff game at Barrington. They also have finished 6-3 four times since 1983.
It's showtime: The IHSA's annual playoff pairings show can be seen from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday on the Comcast CN100 network. The IHSA Web site (ihsa.org) will also have updates on qualifiers throughout the day with who made the 256-team field at approximately 6 p.m.