Some joy back for Millsaps

Everyone on the Rolling Meadows sideline watched intently as the chain gang came out to measure a crucial third-down run in the final minutes of Friday's Mid-Suburban East showdown with Buffalo Grove.

And when the result was clear, that's when Meadows coach Doug Millsaps was hit by all of the emotions of what had been one of the most difficult weeks of his life.

"I didn't think about it much until I saw the first down," Millsaps said of the death of his father William during last week's game at Robert A. Hoese Field with Wheeling.

Now there was some joy again for Millsaps at the same place where his family had endured one its most difficult moments. He smiled and gave an emphatic first down signal as Meadows had wrapped up at least a share of the East crown with a 26-19 victory.

It was a sight Meadows' players hoped to see.

"It was real important for us," said Meadows standout defensive lineman Erick Louis-Charles. "Knowing what he's going through. Coach is a part of this team and we had to go win this one for his father."

A father who talked with his son on a regular basis about the games played and coming up next.

A father who had missed only three of his son's games in 26 years of coaching.

"Coach and his family needed a win," said Meadows senior offensive lineman Patrick Wiebe.

It won't take away Doug Millsaps' pain of losing someone so close. But it certainly eased it a bit just two days after his father's funeral in Rockford.

So did the outpouring of support from people at the school and in the community. The entire team took a bus to Rockford for the visitation after Tuesday's practice.

"I think it brought the team together," said quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, "and we became more of a family."

The coaching staff of defensive coordinator Tony Wolanski, offensive coordinator Charlie Henry, Scott Otahal, Jim Rucks, Bob Meyer and Mike Naymola made sure everything stayed together during the practices Millsaps missed.

Everything came together for Meadows in the second half Friday night. Wiebe, Zack and Tyler Tegtmeier, Jared Diaz and Colin Buscarini dominated up front to let Garoppolo put on a show.

Louis-Charles wasn't only a defensive force but displayed some fancy footwork running the ball. Tony Taibi, Scott Shewmon, Marius Salkauskas and Artie Checchin made big catches, John Sullivan had a huge interception and Dan Lowry made a key fourth-down stop.

It added up to a second East title in three years and the fourth in Millsaps' 13-year turnaround of the Meadows' program.

"You couldn't have given me a better gift - and my family - with what you did tonight," Millsaps told his players in their postgame huddle. "It's not a tribute to anybody but yourselves."

A group determined to pay tribute to a father and his son.

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com