...to Hillside next week to play the Panthers of Proviso West. Where is Hillside and who is Proviso West?
Hillside is a village of approximately 8,000 souls about ten miles due west of Chicago. It's the home of Mount Carmel Cemetery, which is the eternal resting place for Al Capone and Dion O'Banion, a couple of misunderstood kids who fell in with a Bad Crowd. (Makes me wonder where "Red" Tom Duffy is buried.)
Proviso West is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It was founded in 1959 when Proviso Township split into two high schools, East and West. It serves seven villages within the township, including Westchester. It's always been known as a basketball (and track) school and has never sent its football team to the post-season before.
The Panthers compete in the tough 14-team West Suburban Conference, which sent six other teams to the playoffs: Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Leyden, Lyons, Oak Park, and Glenbard West. (Four of the seven advanced to the second round.)
After winning their first four games, Proviso West went on to lose four of their last five, including their last three. At 5-4, Coach Famous Hulbert's Panthers qualified for the playoffs for the first time ever and defeated Taft in the first round, 46-0, at Lane Stadium. (The Eagles had been 8-1 during the regular season.)
Although the Titans have to travel all the way to Hillside, and although they weren't overwhelming in their victory over Notre Dame, they should defeat Proviso West. The Panthers are new to this post-season stuff and only recorded one victory during the regular season over a team to make the playoffs (Leyden). Also, Coach Mike Noll is overdue to take his team beyond the second round.
The only wild-card will be the play of Panthers' wide receiver Kyle Prater, who committed to USC in September. He's rated as the No. 2 player in the nation by Rivals. If he has a big game, all bets are off.
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