Prospect's facing tough 1st-round test
The waiting was just one of the hardest parts of Prospect's seventh straight appearance in the state football playoffs.
Prospect coach Mike Sebestyen wasn't convinced his 5-4 team was in the playoffs until about 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The Knights' 40 playoff points were just enough to make the highest cutoff for 5-4 teams in IHSA history.
So, as team No. 252 in the 256-team field, the 16th-seeded Knights hit the road next Saturday for their Class 7A opener against top-seed Glenbard West (9-0), which some observers consider its best team since its 1983 state champion.
But the trip there included a recovery from a slow 1-3 start, a late drive to edge Rolling Meadows and avoid elimination two weeks ago and a win at Buffalo Grove on Friday.
"I said to the kids (Saturday), 'We haven't done anything easy all year so why should it start now," first-year Prospect coach Mike Sebestyen said with a laugh. "Let's go at it and do our job. As long as we play our style of football I feel good about our opportunity.
"They're a big, physical football team and there's a reason they are 9-0. It will be a fun experience for the kids and a challenging experience."
The Knights' seven-year playoff streak is tied for third-longest in MSL history with Rolling Meadows (2003-09). Fremd is first at 16 (1995-2010) and Palatine is second at 12 (1987-96).
Better than last year: Elk Grove is opening the playoffs for the second straight year with a Mid-Suburban League opponent.
The difference this time is the Grenadiers (8-1) won't have faced Mayor's Trophy rival Conant (6-3) the last two seasons when they meet in a 7A opener.
Last year the Grenadiers lost their opener to a Schaumburg team they had beaten in an MSL crossover.
"Last year was a weird situation playing Schaumburg," said Elk Grove coach Brian Doll. "This is OK because we haven't played them early this year and I get along with Bill (Conant coach Modelski) really well. It will be a lot of fun."
Worth the wait for AT: From the moment its football schedule was announced, Addison Trail's collective eyes turned to Week 9. The annual showdown against Downers Grove South jumped off the slate.
The waiting game ended for the Blazers (8-1, 6-0) on Friday when they pulled out a 20-14 win to claim their first West Suburban Gold Conference title since 2006.
After eight long weeks, the celebration on Addison Trail's field understandably lasted until well after the game ended.
For the Blazers, though, the championship didn't just boil down to the win over Downers South (8-1, 5-1). According to coach Paul Parpet it was the culmination of a nine-week process.
"You've still got to play eight weeks before you get to this point," Parpet said. "I thought we did what we had to do to get here."
Addison Trail, which suffered its lone loss to unbeaten Glenbard West in Week 7, was bound for the playoffs regardless of Friday's result against the previously-unbeaten Mustangs.
Losing a fifth straight game to Downers South, though, would have been a tough pill to swallow.
"No more moral victories from here on out," Parpet said.
St. Charles looks ahead: After St. Charles East defeated St. Charles North 23-21 Friday at Norris Stadium the third straight year the Crosstown Classic was decided by 3 points or less St. Charles East coach Mike Fields was having a difficult time thinking of his seniors.
Since neither team will advance to the playoffs, for the seniors Friday night was the end of their era. Fields, who was celebrating a birthday, loved the conclusion.
Addressing Saints quarterback Charlie Fisher, who ran for 3 touchdowns, Fields said: "I'm going to miss him more than I realize, and I don't want to think about it right now because I'll get all teared up here on my birthday."