Donnelly, Holecek meet again

Tyler Donnelly and John Holecek will be matching wits Saturday night instead of trading hits the way they used to as University of Illinois football teammates.

The Class 8A quarterfinal will be their first meeting as high school head coaches when Donnelly and Palatine host Holecek and Loyola.

They met plenty of times when Donnellly was a fullback for the Fighting Illini who lettered in 1993 and Holecek was a two-time all-Big Ten linebacker (1993-94) who went on to an eight-year NFL career.

“We would go against each other in practice every day and it will be fun going against him again,” Donnelly said with a smile. “He, in one game, played more than I did in my whole career. It's fun to have those connections.”

Donnelly said he and Holecek talked a little about Illinois football after Loyola's 14-7 second-round win over Fremd. Donnelly hasn't forgotten what helped Holecek make it in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers and Atlanta Falcons.

“I always had a lot of respect for the way he practiced hard,” Donnelly said. “A lot of guys paced themselves in practice and John never did.

“I've been rooting for him ever since he got into coaching, but just not (tonight).”

This is Holecek's fifth year as Loyola's head coach and Donnelly's sixth at Palatine.

“I respect the heck out of him and what he's done,” Holecek said. “He does a nice job with his team.”

Holecek was also a high school teammate of Palatine offensive line coach Mike Hernon at Marian Catholic. Hernon was a senior and Holecek a junior in 1988 when their team went 9-3 and reached the 5A quarterfinals.

“He (Hernon) is excited about that,” Donnelly said.