Memorable time comes to tough end

Andrew Corso has a bright future with a 4.0 grade point average, a No. 1 class ranking and plans that could include studying mechanical engineering at an Ivy League school.

But on a cold, windy and sometimes snowy Friday night, Corso eloquently discussed the difficulty of leaving behind one of the most memorable chapters of his life.

"It's tough," the sticky-handed Fremd senior wide receiver said after his high school football career ended with a 21-7 Class 8A second-round playoff loss to Bartlett at Streamwood's Millennium Field.

"You spend so much time with these guys. It's five minutes (later) and I can't believe it's over."

Fremd's hopes of at least a third straight quarterfinal trip and possibly beyond were still alive well into the fourth quarter.

But too many missed opportunities - seven unsuccessful trips into Bartlett territory - were ultimately too much for the Vikings to overcome.

"We'd be sparking and we just couldn't finish it," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci.

Corso did have a creative and spectacular finish for Fremd's only score. His leaping grab of Mike Tauchman's pass in the left corner of the end zone cut a 14-point deficit in half with 121/2 minutes still remaining.

"I felt that was our momentum shift right there, but it didn't play out that way," Corso said. "We had a lot of chances and we just weren't able to convert."

The way Fremd responded to a 14-0 deficit at intermission made those who had been around this year's wild ride believe another dramatic ending was in store.

The Vikings had won two games in the last minute of regulation and another in overtime. They were establishing some control even though a drive of 7:16 to start the second half died at the Bartlett 11.

After Corso's touchdown catch, Fremd's comeback hopes seemed even more realistic when Chris Waslik and Jeff Bobek blasted in for a sack to force a punt. Junior Zenon Kolakowski then made his second spectacular catch of the half - a 52-yarder to the Bartlett 30.

"I felt we had been through every situation possible," Corso said. "There was no scenario we hadn't gone through yet.

"I thought that would be our road to Champaign, but it had an abrupt end here."

Bartlett held and then went on a drive that ate up 61/2 minutes and 64 yards and iced the game as snow started falling. Fremd players also started dropping as injuries to Bobek's right ankle and Kolakowski's right knee forced them to be helped off the field.

But Fremd kept battling even as it was up against the clock with 49 seconds left. Maybe a quick score, an onside kick -

There were no miracles left, however. With two seconds left, before the final pass fell incomplete and Bartlett started celebrating its first quarterfinal trip, former Fremd player and assistant coach Lou Sponsel went up and shook hands with and patted Tauchman on the helmet in appreciation for a tremendous year and career.

"There are a lot of kids with high character with this group," Donatucci said. "The loss and score isn't going to take that away from them. They'll shine elsewhere."

That includes Corso, who scored 28 on his ACT and will also be looking to keep playing. Brown, Penn, Columbia, Holy Cross, Dayton and Valparaiso have shown interest.

He just wished he didn't have to start thinking about a new team already.

"It's a terrible feeling but life goes on," Corso said. "I wish I could spend every minute of my life with these guys. It's so much more than football."

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com