Palatine handles big test

Trevor Walzak is listed on the Palatine roster as a defensive back. At 5-foot-7, 150 pounds, the senior clearly looks like he belongs in the secondary.

But he got some pressure on Glenbard North quarterback Mark Ng late in the first half. As a result, Walzak wound up at defensive end the entire second half in Palatine defensive coordinator Rick Splitt's scheme.

That might appear to be a dead end considering Walzak was battling Glenbard North's Paul Wisniewski. But Walzak wasn't giving in despite giving up 9 inches and 140 pounds.

"Being a senior and playing four years at Palatine, you have to give it up for the team," Walzak said. "That's all you can ask for. You sell yourself for the team. That's the way you have to play football."

A few more people may be sold on the Pirates after the way they played in their 28-14 Class 8A first-round upset at Glenbard North.

It was their first playoff victory since they beat Lane Tech in the first round in 2007. But this was against a DuPage Valley Conference team whose only regular-season loss was to unbeaten and defending 7A state champion Wheaton Warrenville South.

On the road against a team that reached the 8A semifinals last year and has finished second in the state three times.

"We finally did it and against a great opponent," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly. "Physically they're tough, but we executed the game plan pretty darn well."

A plan that was tough to execute as originally planned in the summer because of injuries to senior multi-sport athletes and multi-threats Cody Bobbit, Jim Smearman and Dan Haze.

But they were all over both sides of the field making plays Friday night.

"Tonight everything was there," Smearman said. "In the regular season we had a couple of close games we could have won, but tonight we put them away right from the start and wouldn't let them back in to the game."

That included big plays from undersized guys such as Walzak, 5-7, 157-pound Jake DeMars, 5-7, 166-pound Nick Novelli and 5-9, 184-pound Rory Fritz.

"The coaches got on us about being fast and aggressive," Walzak said. "We did the job on the defensive line and got in their face a little bit."

And sophomores Lucas Rago and Jesse Bobbit, who is in his second year as a varsity starter, played like seniors. The Pirates had 4 interceptions and a fumble recovery a week after Kurt Becker's 3 interceptions helped get them in the playoffs with a win at Barrington.

"Our defense was great tonight the best we've played all season," said Smearman, who dished out as much punishment as he took at middle linebacker and running back. "Before the game I talked to Lucas Rago and said, 'We need to play our best tonight.'"

There was no better time for it to happen for the Pirates.

"It was a fun night," Cody Bobbit said. "Coach talked before the game about the great memories you could have and having fun today and we definitely did."

They hope their fun was just beginning Friday night.

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com