Where do I begin with this game?
Well, first of all, I was not expecting a defensive battle.
Secondly, there's a reason the Tigers are the two-time defending 7A champs: head coach Ron Muhitch. (These guys remind me a little of last year's Maine South team, which began the season 0-2.)
Muhitch started sophomore Ryan Graham at quarterback for the injured senior Thaddeus Armstrong, only to see Graham knocked out of the game on the second or third series. I thought to myself, Game Over. How can you win without a quarterback? But Armstrong came in and led the Tigers to the game's lone touchdown on the next possession.
It was Game Over. I just didn't realize it.
Thirdly, well, let's just get to the game itself. Lincoln-Way East received the opening kickoff and marched down the field to about the Tigers' 25-yard line or so. The offense looked sharp; Princeton-bound quarterback Blake Winkler was completing passes to Jay Yancy and J. J. Robertson, and running backs Blake Anders and Tyler Starke were finding huge holes through which to run. But a missed field goal attempt by Sean Sheetz stalled the drive.
On the Griffins' next possession -- same thing -- an impressive drive deep into South's territory only to result in a field goal attempt that came up short.
Hmmm, I thought, is there a problem here? But then, No, I saw these guys come back from a 14-0 deficit at Bolingbrook. They'll get it going.
In the second quarter J. J. Robertson failed to call for a fair catch (this guy's going to Illinois?) and East was forced to work from inside its five-yard line. (In case no one's figured it out by now, the kicking game is important. And the best teams I've seen this year can kick. See: West, Glenbard.) After three and out, the Griffins punted to South to set up the game's lone score on a pass from Armstrong to wide receiver Sam Prete (who had a great game, by the way).
Okay, 7-0 -- no need to panic. And the Griffins didn't. In fact, they looked impressive -- again -- marching down the field to inside the Tigers' 10-yard line late in the second quarter. But then ... Winkler threw to Robertson and was picked off at the one-yard line by Zach Kyllonen. Half over. And game.
In Washington-speak, East had three bites at the apple. How many do you think you'll get?
By the way, Kyllonen was my Player of the Game. Not only did he stop that crucial drive, but he pretty much shut down Robertson all night. (That match-up was one of the first things I looked for.)
The second half was just a series of frustrated drives by both teams.
Is South's defense really this good? (They sacked Winkler six times.) Can the Tigers beat the winner of the Oswego-East St. Louis game today? I think so. Why? Muhitch. (This guy must pull rabbits out of hats at birthday parties in his spare time.) He doesn't seem to have the horses, but he knows how to win games. (With the exception of one dazzling run that was called back, running back Dan Vitale was not a factor tonight.)
Look for Wheaton Warrenville South to meet up with St. Rita in the quarterfinals. Now that will be a great game.
In other contests last night:
Homewood-Flossmoor 48, Lockport 7 (Vikings on a roll.)
Downers Grove South 41, Brother Rice 14 (Wow! Not even close.)
St. Rita 28, Andrew 13 (I didn't get a chance to write my piece, "Who is Andrew?")
Crystal Lake South 14, Carmel 9 (Tough loss for the Corsairs.)
Lemont 35, Oak Forest 14 (Indians are headed for Champaign.)
Joliet Catholic 41, Morris 7 (Again, not even close.)
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