Panthers not the only Cinderella

The other real Cinderella story in Class 8A?

Everyone by now in the Daily Herald readership area knows about the great postseason so far by the Glenbard North Panthers.

But the Class 8A field also boasts another Cinderella type of success story out in south suburban Flossmoor.

So what's the story with No. 16 seed Homewood-Flossmoor, which will host Naperville North tonight for a chance to play in the Class 8A title game?

The Vikings under first-year coach Kenneth Smith stumbled to a 5-4 regular season and were a lowly 16th seed heading into the Class 8A playoffs. The Vikings lost three of their last four games heading into the state playoffs, including what several H-F players called "embarrassing" losses to Bradley (26-4) and Andrew (42-21).

So what's been the difference for H-F in the postseason? According to Smith: "During the regular season we heard a lot about I, I, I and me, me, me. After the loss to Andrew, I think the team really started to understand that this is still a team sport and that no matter how good the individual talent might be, you don't win football games without everyone pulling together. Everyone is on the same page and we are now playing as a team and playing for each other."

On offense senior quarterback Russell Ellington was moved from quarterback to receiver and then back to quarterback to start the state playoffs, and the Vikings attack has never looked back since.

Ellington has given the University of Iowa a verbal commitment as an outside linebacker prospect.

Ellington's favorite target is his best friend and University of Illinois verbal commit is wide receiver-safety Supo Sanni. Junior running back Aaron Phillips was also a late-season addition to the lineup, and Phillips has given the Vikings running game a real boost.

Defensively, senior linebacker Stephan Sewell is a player to watch, and the Vikings kicking game is a strength behind senior kicker Andrej Skiba.