Grayslake Central reflects on progress
It didn't start well. But then, the young head coach's reclamation project three years ago didn't start out well, either.
So instead of lamenting its 40-7 loss to host Marian Central Catholic in the teams' second-round Class 5A state playoff football game in Woodstock Saturday night, Grayslake Central chose to reflect on how far it has come as a program.
“I'm really proud of these seniors and their families,” said coach Nick Goshe, who in four years took his team from 0-9 in 2006 to 7 wins and its first playoff berth since 2003 this season. “They had a chance to do what's been done at this school for a long time, (and that's) take the easy route. They decided to put the work in and put the effort in to change the program. This senior class did that.”
Grayslake Central (7-4) fell behind early and trailed 40-0 by the time Ray Beckman threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Stempeck late in the third quarter. But at game's end, those details didn't seem to matter for the losing team.
“This year was great,” senior nose guard Jimmy Soto said. “From our summer camp at Benedictine (University) to this very moment, it's been all family. It's over now, but in our hearts, we're still family. Those 10 guys that I play with on defense, I can turn to every single one of them when I need help. Those guys are my brothers. And even though I don't play offense, those guys helped us get better, and we helped them get better.
“It's really awesome. I'm going to miss nights like this.”
Fullback Jared Koch had a special night for Marian Central (8-3), which will look to avenge a regular-season loss when it visits fellow Suburban Christian Blue member Montini (9-2), which was a 28-7 winner over Sycamore on Saturday, in a state quarterfinal matchup in Lombard.
Koch rushed for a career-best 216 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 15 carries.
Corey Cavitt added 105 rushing yards and 2 TDs on 22 carries.
“We really established a run game and controlled the football,” Koch said. “When you can control the football and control the clock, run the ball with authority, you'll win the football game.”
The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Koch ran behind Matt Van Der Bosch, Scott Bolton, Brian Rowe, Matt Slavik, Scott Taylor and tight end Scott Stochl. Koch scored on runs of 1, 8 and 76 yards, the last of which commenced a running clock with 1:57 left in the third quarter.
“This season I've been more of a blocking fullback,” Koch said. “Today the quick plays were open for us, which was mainly the traps and dives. Our linemen did a great job of staying on their blocks and getting downfield. I just did my job as a running back.”
Grayslake Central started the game in a hurry-up offense but gained 1 yard on three plays before punting from its own 15-yard line.
It was the beginning of a long night for the Rams.
“We knew we had to come in and try to make a difference early,” Goshe said. “We actually got some of the things we wanted (in the hurry-up), but credit to (Marian Central). They made some plays.”
Marian Central failed to capitalize on Sam Calderaro's ensuing punt return to the 14, but the Hurricanes pinned the Rams deep in their territory again.
Hurricanes quarterback Ben Krol sneaked in from 1 yard out.
Then after Grayslake Central fumbled the ball away at its own 20, Marian Central needed just four plays to score. Cavitt's 4-yard run and his conversion scamper made it 14-0 with 4:50 left in the opening quarter.
Koch's first TD, in the final 41 seconds of the first half, made it 20-0.
“We played in our half of the field the entire first half,” Goshe said. “It was really a credit to the defensive guys that it was only 20-0.”