Conant’s ‘Me for We’ mentality pays off in win over Palatine

Anthony Donatucci took his Conant football team to Lacon this summer and temporarily disconnected the Cougars from just about everything.

Especially their coveted devices.

“We took their phones at night,” the Conant coach said of the downstate trip that included cabins, swimming, bonfires, and plenty of team building.

Something else happened there.

The Cougars came home with a motto: “Me for We.”

Months later, with an unbeaten record in jeopardy Friday night, Conant showed what that looks like.

Sophomore Ty Mickelson scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 17-yard run with 5:27 remaining, and Conant’s defense supplied two late stops in a 21-14 homecoming victory over Palatine in the Mid-Suburban League West opener in Hoffman Estates.

The Cougars improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2019 and 1-0 in the MSL West. Palatine fell to 2-3, 0-1.

“We all trust in each other,” Conant senior quarterback/defensive back Tyler Marchese said.

Senior running back Jackson Spizzirri carried much of the offensive load, rushing 25 times for 153 yards and a pair of touchdowns (3 yards, 1 yard).

But the Cougars needed more than Spizzirri to survive a game that was scoreless at halftime and tied 7-7 after three quarters.

Palatine quarterback Brandon Martino connected with junior Brennan Wright for a 49-yard touchdown with 2:07 left in the third quarter. Conant answered when Spizzirri scored from one yard out 4 seconds into the fourth to make it 14-7.

Palatine senior Jayden Evans’ two-yard touchdown run tied it at 14 with 8:50 remaining.

Then came Mickelson.

The sophomore, who had only two carries all night, burst up the middle for the decisive 17-yard score. He finished with 39 yards.

Conant still had to protect the lead.

On Palatine’s next possession, Marchese broke up a third-and-11 pass. Later, handling punting duties for the first time this season, he helped pin the Pirates at their 6-yard line.

On Palatine’s next play, senior defensive back Anthony Burns intercepted Martino with 45 seconds left.

Game over.

Conant junior Gabriel Kawalec also had a first-quarter interception. Burns rushed 10 times for 46 yards, and senior Ivan Haralanov added 56 yards on 13 carries.

Martino finished 4-for-10 for 92 yards, with Wright catching two passes for 65 yards. Evans led Palatine with 47 rushing yards on 13 carries.

“Good battle,” first-year Palatine coach Chad Bobbit said. “Hat’s off to Conant. Their culture is obvious — play hard. We do, too.”

A year ago, Palatine defeated Conant 35-7.

This time, not far from a giant “WE RUN THIS BEACH” sign hanging in front of Conant’s student section on Beach Party-themed homecoming night, the Cougars won the rematch.

Maybe “Me for We” travels well.

From Lacon to the beach, anyway.