Pressure's on when it comes to picking state champs
By Marty Maciaszek
Special to the Daily Herald
The hot seat may be getting hotter as we enter the sixth year of predicting the football state championship games.
A four-game losing streak, after blowing the entire Saturday schedule a year ago, brings the overall record of these predictions to 20-20. Sustained mediocrity breeds growing discontent.
If there were discussions about this on sports talk radio, venomous fans would be angrily calling for change. Media outlets would have heavy speculation on potential replacement candidates.
So, feeling that must-win pressure not unlike Marc Trestman or Tim Beckman in Champaign, here's a look at this year's eight games at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium, starting with the big boys:
Class 8A
Stevenson (13-0) vs. Homewood-Flossmoor (11-2), 7 p.m. Saturday
When they met in Week 2, Stevenson had to overcome a one-day weather delay and then a 17-point second-half deficit before coming back for a 33-24 victory at H-F. That turned out to be a season-low point total for the Vikings and the most points allowed by the Patriots' defense led by two-way lineman and Eastern Michigan recruit NIck Dillon, LB Jason Varvick and DE Pat O'Connell. They contained dangerous junior twins Deonte and Devonte Harley-Hampton, who have combined for 2,600 yards rushing and 39 TDs. Bryce Gray is also a dangerous passing threat (2,106 yards, 23 TDs, 5 INTs).
Stevenson has a great leader at QB in Willie Bourbon (2,435 yards) and he showed it in directing last week's late 88-yard TD drive in a 7-3 semifinal win at Glenbard West. Bourbon is going to Northwestern to play baseball while top target Cameron Green (57 catches, 826 yards, 10 TDs) is going there to play football. Jack Sorenson (59 catches, 812 yards) is another top target and Jack Joseph continues the program's long-time running game tradition with 1,139 yards and 18 TDs.
The pick: Stevenson has had its share of tests in the regular season and with three close playoff games. The Patriots will no longer be viewed as one of the best programs to never win a state title late Saturday night after a 35-24 win that has people dreaming about a similar ceremony for the school's boys basketball team in March in Peoria.
Class 7A
Cary-Grove (13-0) vs. Providence (12-1), 4 p.m. Saturday
This is definitely a clash of styles that feature a lot of substance. Cary has beaten its opponents into submission with the methodical precision of its triple option offense, which has the added element of big-time size up front with Notre Dame-bound Trevor Ruhland (6-feet-4, 280 pounds) and D-I prospect Michael Gomez (6-0, 260). Sophomore beast Tyler Pennington has rushed for 1,653 yards and 33 TDs and QB Jason Gregoire has run and passed for 1,400 yards and 19 TDs.
Providence has Ruhland's future Notre Dame teammate presenting a big matchup problem in 6-4 WR Miles Boykin (62 catches, 987 yards, 19 TDs) leading the passing attack run by QB Justin Hunniford (3,119 yards, 40 TDs, 3 INTs). Another challenge for Cary's small secondary is 6-5 Iowa-bound TE Nate Vejvoda (39 for 583, 8 TDs).
Cary coach Brad Seaburg has been asked a few times about concerns over the lack of tight games (closest was 38-28 opener over Wheaton North). His answer is most of this group started a lot of close games last year. The only loss for Providence was 10-7 in Week 7 to Loyola.
The pick: Seeing Cary in person is similar to watching a machine operating at peak efficiency. Even though Gregoire doesn't throw much it's not because he lacks the ability and that gives opposing defenses another option to consider. This will be a tremendous challenge against a Providence team that also will be fundamentally sound. Cary completes its season-long mission by taking a 28-24 thriller.
Class 6A
Lemont (13-0) vs. Nazareth (13-0), 1 p.m. Saturday
This is the first time Nazareth has advanced past the quarterfinals, but head coach Tim Racki knows a lot about what it takes to get here as the leader of the first four of now-shuttered Driscoll's record of seven straight state titles from 2001-06. Racki has a team led by Neuqua Valley transfer RB Nolan Dean (1,852 yards, 27 TDs), QB Jonah Beauduy (1,447 yards, 18 TDs) and Julian Love (19 TDs rushing and receiving) that many observers believe could win a title in any class. The Roadrunners' closest call was 24-21 against Joliet Catholic.
Lemont flew under the radar with its prolific passing game and even people in the southwest suburbs weren't sure how successful it would be this year. But the arrival of two-time state champion coach Bret Kooi (Lockport in 2002 and 2003) and Duke-bound WR Flynn Nagel (87 catches, 1,361 yards, 28 TDs) from Marist led to a magical season with QB Ryan Dawson (2,357 yards, 46 TDs) and WR Jimmy Kepouros (53 catches, 698 yards, 14 TDs).
The pick: Racki has been working for 10 years to finally get Nazareth to this level. He'll be in a familiar place on Saturday afternoon with his team accepting a title trophy after a 49-28 victory.
Class 5A
Montini (10-3) vs. Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (13-0), 10 a.m. Saturday
A great start to Saturday with a rematch of last year's 5A title game where Griffin ended Montini's streak of four titles with a 38-28 victory. Two legendary coaches match wits in Montini's Chris Andriano and Griffin's Ken Leonard.
Montini faced some adversity to get back to state for the sixth straight year and was 4-3 after a loss to St. Francis. But the Broncos have turned it on offensively with QB Chuck Norgle (2,892 yards, 24 TDs, 6 INTs), Indiana-bound WR Leon Thornton III (61 catches, 879 yards, 10 TDs), sophomore RB Prince Walker (1,045 yards, 16 TDs) and Northwestern-bound K Mason Weissenhofer (14-for-18 field goals). The ball-hawking defense led by LB Terrell Johnson and LB John Embrey has been stellar the last six weeks.
But that defense has a monumental challenge with Southern Miss-bound QB Gabe Green (2,630 yards, 36 TDs, 2 INTs). Green has also rushed for 8 TDs and the Cyclones haven't scored less than 42 points this season.
The pick: Montini is always ready for anything with its tough schedule. But Green will cap his stellar career and lead SSHG to its 28th straight victory 42-28.
Class 4A
Phillips (12-1) vs. Rochester (11-2), 7 p.m. Friday
The chase for history adds to the intrigue of the matchup. Phillips joins 1982 5A runnerup Robeson as the only Chicago Public League teams to make a state title game. Rochester is trying to win its fifth straight title and get closer to Driscoll's record streak of seven.
Phillips is no fluke under coach Troy McAllister after losing to Geneseo in the quarters last year. The offense is led by dynamic Illinois State-bound QB Dewayne Collins and RB Corey Warren while S Jamal Brown and LB Amani Jones lead a defense that has allowed 58 points and has 7 shutouts. CPL teams usually draw skepticism from fattening up on their own, but the Wildcats made an early statement with a 20-13 loss to Carmel and a 40-7 romp over Naperville North.
Rochester stumbled in its final two regular-season games but that was against playoff qualifier Decatur MacArthur and reigning 5A champion Springfield Griffin. The prolific offense features QB Danny Ziegler (2,755 yards, 31 TDs, 5 INTs), RB Evan Sembell (2,235 yards, 31 TDs) and WR Jeremy Bivens (1,272 yards, 14 TDs).
The pick: How will Phillips' handle its first appearance on the biggest stage and how will its defense handle its biggest challenge? Rochester knows what this is all about and will make it a high five with its streak of titles with a 41-20 win.
Class 3A
Wilmington (13-0) vs. Williamsville (13-0), 4 p.m. Friday
The first of two unbeaten matchups has Wilmington getting it second shot at a state title (second in 2003) with Williamsville getting its first. Wilmington relies on the rushing duo of Nick McWilliams (1,348 yards, 23 TDs) and Nick Hawkins (1,115 yards, 13 TDs) while Williamsville has QB Luke Bleyer (2,139 yards passing, 17 TDs) and RB Jace Franklin (15 TDs) and a defense that has allowed 92 points.
The pick: In the Nicks of time helps give Wilmington its first title 21-14.
Class 2A
Eastland-Pearl City (13-0) vs. Maroa-Forsyth (10-3), 1 p.m. Friday
Iowa-bound Jack Hockaday of Maroa-Forsyth is pretty close to a one-man team as he's passed for 1,897 yards and 22 TDs, rushed for 1,784 and 30, leads the team in tackles at linebacker, punts and kicks and returns both. His team's losses are by a total of 8 points. Eastland made it past the second round for the first time behind RB Walter Ollie (17 TDs).
The pick: I'll go with the Jack of Every Trade and Maroa to add to the titles it won in 2006 and 2012 with a 35-21 victory.
Class 1A
Forreston (12-1) vs. Carrollton (13-0), 10 a.m. Friday
The eight-game extravaganza starts with two teams that have never been here before. QB Jack Smith, who has passed and rushed for 39 TDs, leads Carrollton. Max Briles has rushed for 1,039 yards and 14 TDs and is one of four Forreston players with 10 or more rushing scores.
The pick: Carrollton has more balance, with Luke Palan also rushing for 1,292 yards and 22 TDs, and will have a 27-20 victory
• Marty Maciaszek is a freelance columnist for the Daily Herald who can be reached at marty.maciaszek@gmail.com.