Wednesday is the cruelest playoff day for New Trier football coach Gene
”Chick” Cichowski.
”It`s murder,” he says. ”I`ve got two starters who won`t play against Glenbrook South. If we didn`t have to play until Saturday, they might be ready.”
Ready or not, however, New Trier and 191 other Illinois high schools open play Wednesday, leading toward state championships in six classes. For the Trevians, who finished the regular season 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in The Tribune`s Prep Power Ratings, it is simply a case of business as usual.
”We won`t change anything,” says Cichowski, who`s making his sixth playoff appearance. ”We`re not going to do any scrimmaging because of the short week. It`s the time factor that`s the same for everyone.”
Despite the possibility of not having left tackle Bart Halling and left guard Barry Munic because of knee injuries, New Trier, the Central Suburban League South Division champion, is considered the favorite in its home-game clash against CSL North champ Glenbrook South.
Wednesday`s winners play again Saturday as the annual survival of the fittest continues. After that, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will be held on successive weekends. The state championship games, all to be played in Normal, are Nov. 22-23.
This is the first year for the expanded playoff system, and Cichowski sees the good and the bad in it.
”One year we wound up 8-1 and didn`t go to the playoffs because we didn`t win our league,” he recalls. ”Now I`m not sure about a 6-3 team in the playoffs. If you lose three games during the year, maybe you don`t want to go into the playoffs.”
Half of the 32 teams in Class 6A were not league champions, and nine of those come in with 6-3 marks.
Although only four of the 32 teams are from outside the Chicago area, one of those, East St. Louis, is the overwhelming favorite to win a third consecutive state championship. The fabled Flyers have averaged more than 53 points a game; have allowed only four touchdowns all year; have won 35 consecutive games; and have scored 30 or more points in their last 14 games, and 35 or more in their last 11.
”It`s not an incentive to play East St. Louis now,” says Cichowski.
”But if we ever get to play them, it would have to be in the finals, and that, certainly, would be an incentive for us.”
More than half of the upper bracket is filled with teams from the Chicago Public League (six) and Chicago Catholic League (four). Four of the first-round games pit Public versus Catholic schools: Chicago Vocational against Brother Rice, Simeon against St. Rita, Bogan against St. Laurence, and Lane Tech against Gordon Tech.
The Lane-Gordon game, featuring schools within four blocks of each other, could be the closest of the four contests. ”We both match up well,” says Gordon Tech coach Tom Winiecki. ”We both have good fullbacks (Rob Roy for Gordon Tech, Don Cuchran for Lane Tech) and strong offensive lines.”
Last year, East St. Louis walloped Downers Grove South 38-6 in the championship game, and the two schools could be paired again in two weeks. But Downers South seems to have a tougher path to a rematch. The Mustangs (8-1)
are without guard Jeff Mangano (strained knee), and running back Dan LoGiurato, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards last year, hasn`t been able to shake off a severe abdominal muscle injury.
Class 5A
If Deerfield (7-2) winds up meeting third-ranked Joliet Catholic (8-1) in the semifinals, it would be a rematch of the 1981 Class 5A championship game, won by Joliet Catholic. To get that far, Deerfield has to beat Zion-Benton Wednesday and a Mid-Suburban League team in the quarterfinals–probably Wheeling.
Deerfield was the Central Suburban League North runner-up, losing the title with Saturday`s 23-20 setback at Glenbrook South.
Wheeling (8-1), which also ended its regular season with a loss, has Dan O`Conor, perhaps the most valuable player in Class 5A. O`Conor starts at running back and defensive back, punts, kicks off, kicks extra points and field goals, and returns punts and kickoffs. Coach Rick Benedetto calls him
”the nucleus of our football program. He can do so many things so well.”
Joliet Catholic is strong on both sides of the ball. Running back John Larsen leads an explosive offense, and end Kevin McShane and tackle Mike Bertino are tough to beat on defense. Only St. Laurence, which edged Joliet Catholic 15-14 in the season opener, has scored more than once against the Hilltoppers.
Joliet Catholic was eliminated in the semifinals the last two seasons, losing to Bartonville Limestone in 1983 and to Peoria Richwoods last year. The Hilltoppers have to worry about only one of those teams this year, because Limestone (6-3) and Richwoods (9-0) meet in the first round.
Richwoods, which beat Deerfield 21-14 to win last year`s 5A title, is the best team in the bottom bracket. If Richwoods gets to the semifinals, there`s a good chance it would face Glenbard West, led by halfback Scott Ellinger, or Wheaton North. Those two could meet in Saturday`s second round.
Class 4A
Defending champion Morris, which plays host to Benet Academy Wednesday, is the team to beat in the top bracket. Running back Doug Sharp, hobbled by an ankle injury earlier in the season, is running strong again.
Morris can`t look past Benet, the team the Redskins beat for last year`s title. Benet`s tradition of strong defense is continued by nose guard Jim Barrett and safety Tim Fitzpatrick.
Richards and Leo both are capable of getting to the semifinals to face Morris, or Benet, or Woodstock. Richards defeated highly regarded Sandburg to win the SICA North title, and Leo survived a tough Catholic League South season.
Elmwood Park (9-0) will be looking for redemption Wednesday when it plays Sullivan (6-3). Two years ago, Elmwood Park was undefeated, but lost to Providence 14-12 in the first round of the 4A playoffs.
Springfield Griffin (9-0) is the class of the bottom bracket. The Cyclones are led by senior quarterback Chris Ondrula, an all-state candidate who has passed for 1,721 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Class 3A
This class and Class 2A have the most undefeated teams with six each. Unbeaten Geneva, led by tailback Derek Swanson, may have a tough time getting past Immaculate Conception in the first round. If Geneva makes it to the semifinals, it will likely face Kankakee Bishop McNamara (9-0), led by standout quarterback Brian Hassett.
Northeast Conference rivals Lemont and Lisle would meet for the second time in a week if they win Wednesday. Lisle won their regular-season finale Saturday 24-21.
Defending 3A champion Anna-Jonesboro (9-0) is the best in the bottom bracket.
Class 2A
Amboy (9-0) finished the season as the top team in The Associated Press poll, and opens at home against Ottawa Marquette (8-1). Casey (No. 2) is at Ziegler-Royalton (No. 5) Wednesday. Four teams from the Big Eight Conference
–Genoa-Kingston, Hampshire, Richmond-Burton and Burlington Central–are in the upper bracket, as is Marian Central of Woodstock, the 2A champion two years ago.
Class 1A
Arcola has a rich football tradition, including the 1978 1A title. The Purple Riders (9-0) have a solid threat in Jon Monahan, a 5-9, 160-pound senior who has rushed for nearly 1,300 yards and leads the state with 25 touchdowns. Potential challengers include Mooseheart, Walnut, Atkinson and Concord Triopia, all undefeated.
