Shew fits right in 9-0 formula

Eric Shew knew what he was missing.

So what about missing the main event of high school football in Palatine on Friday night?

"No way," said the Fremd senior defensive back, who had not played the last four games with a severely injured finger. "I love these guys and I love playing with them."

Enough to wrap up his left arm in a club and get back in the action against cross-town rival Palatine before a standing-room-only crowd at Hale Hildebrandt Field.

And Shew helped make it memorable as Fremd imposed its trademark "Iron Will" in the second half to turn a tie game into a 31-13 romp and the school's fourth perfect regular season.

Shew suffered the injury in the final minute of a Week 4 win over Rolling Meadows. He didn't like the idea of having to wait until the playoffs to return.

"I was so frustrated," Shew said. "I felt I was playing at a really high level and playing well. Now I have to go to work in practice and compete every day."

Because the competitiveness is one of the trademarks of a team that wrapped up a Mid-Suburban League record seventh consecutive division title. They had no interest in sharing it again as they did last year with their cross-town rivals.

But they are interested in sharing the success with each other. After rushing for 240 yards to set the single-season school record, Evan Wright clicked off the names Christian Lombard, Evan Schaeffer, Mike Rumps, Mike Metzen, Brian Bobek and Jack Konopka as quickly as one of his 3 touchdown runs.

"I owe all of my success to them," Wright said of the crew that set led a tone-setting 67-yard drive to open the second half. "Without them there would be none of this."

Big-time playmaker Jayme Szafranski came up with two - an interception and a fumble recovery. But senior Tom Carmody, who stepped in when Shew got hurt, also came up with a big pick.

Cameron Radis, Levi Jorgenson, Drew Mertes, John Josif, Michael Sahli, Justin Wallace, Dan Muehfeldt, Alex Vanduch, Tyler Mundt and Michael Risher all played their parts in containing Palatine's explosive offense.

"In the locker room we talked about coming out strong," Mertes said, "dominating and taking them out of their momentum and doing what we had to do."

Doing the kind of special things Eric Shew couldn't wait to be a part of once again.

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com