Donatucci's debut at Hoffman a winner
Mike Donatucci is back.
Is Hoffman Estates?
The Illinois High School Football Hall-of-Famer reignited his career and perhaps Hoffman's long-dwindling fortunes with Saturday's 28-20 win over host Streamwood at Millennium Field.
And you could feel how special it was for a program that has been practically belly-up for years.
Fans chanted “Don — A — Tuch — Eee” over and over as time ticked off after the Hawks got a clinching first down to maintain possession and run out the clock. Even Donatucci stood by the chains, peering at the measurement as the refs examined it for the crucial possession play and then the head coach leapt with his players and coaches, arms aloft, as the refs signaled, first down.
There's a new attitude at Hoffman.
“Absolutely,” said junior quarterback Jeff Mayes. “When Coach Donatucci came here, we knew we had to make it a family.”
“All the coaches who have been here the last few years, working their (butts) off,” that's in good part who this season-opening win was for, said Donatucci.
“I'm so happy for these kids.”
The Hawks never panicked, working hard when Streamwood put the pressure on them and keeping their cool and executing when they needed to maintain possession.
When the Hawks get back to practicing, Donatucci, after 19 great years at Fremd, is going to get right to work on eliminating mental errors that plagued his young team Saturday.
In the meantime, the feeling of winning the opener lingers.
“Speechless,” said Mayes, before finding the words “strength and honor” that Donatucci preaches. And family, which the team is committed to.
The effort is always going to be there, said Mayes, “When you know you've got brothers around you.”
For Streamwood, which led 14-0 at halftime, it was a tough loss for new head coach Mark Orszula as he tries to resurrect the Sabres' program just as Donatucci is doing at Hoffman.
Streamwood junior Cole Segar had the first score on a fumble recovery for touchdown.
Senior quarterback Mason Polich hooked up with junior Noah Polich for the other Sabres scores.
The first, in the second quarter, covered 89 yards and put Streamwood ahead 14-0. The second, in the third quarter, went for 16 yards.
Mason Polich finished 22-for-30 passing for 272 yards with 1 interception. But Streamwood's ground game was held to minus-6 yards.
Mayes rushed for 126 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown burst, and finished 10-for-18 passing for 80 yards wth 1 interception. Keegan Mugerditchian rushed for 76 yards and a TD for the Hawks.
Hoffman Estates enior David Bauries had 2 TDs — one on a 73 yard pass play from Kabrian Johnson, and another on a 22-yard interception return.