And finally there are 8! The state championships in Illinois high school football came fast and went just as quick unless you were part of the media circle up in the Memorial Stadium press box spending a good 12 to 14 hours each day watching, writing, and listening to the excitement of the winners and the disappointment of the losers. Yet through all the excitement we were treated to a display of high school football at it's best. It was two days that saw 6 teams that came in with no numbers in the loss column taste defeat for the first time. A small school drew inspiration from the dearly departed AD. A game that saw more turnovers than a Swedish bakery ends the title hopes for one school with a fanatical following while the other takes home the title. Another undefeated team goes down without putting a point on the scoreboard, while two teams go the extra mile for the first time in nearly 10 seasons in a title game the ending comes down to a decision to go for it all. We saw two storied programs battle it out once again and not leaving us disappointed with a finish down to the wire. The loss of one school's star player turns what could've been a great game into a running clock. A school's dream season ends in a championship a school that for years was as far from the title as you could be, while another school ends the day in stunning fashion knocking off the strong favorite in a roller coaster of emotions. Yes, that was the state championships for 2001 last weekend in Champaign. Right now it's Wednesday soooooooo.....some Random Thoughts.....and such.

What a fantastic two days it was at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois. I know the jury is still out on 8 class football, but I really enjoyed watching all 8 games. I can't say the ending of class 8A was a happy one for me, but still the same all the games were exciting. The weather was really unbelievable for the most part except for some isolated down pours the sun did shine from time to time and temperatures were comfortable. Kudos to the IHSA for staging a great time for all Illinois high school football fans. I suggest if you haven't gotten down to Champaign since thyey've moved there to make plans for 2002. You'll really enjoy it.

The games. Well, I correctly picked 4 of the 8 champions so I guess I should be happy being .500. I was particularly surprised in the 1-4 classes. The first game between Kewanee Weathersfield and Lexington was a great display of solid defense on the part of the Flying Geese who kept the Minutemen off the board until late in the game. The story here folks is Weathersfield's emotional win in the wake of the passing away of their Athletic Director Dave Lapan who passed away on November 5th. Talking to a few of the Weathersfield folks who were elated that the Geeese brought it home for Mr. Lapan and never lost faith. Lexington meanwhile had a great season and the high school scene in Illinois was introduced to a young Freshman WR named Tom Schneider we we'll be hearing a lot of down the road. Schneider had 8 catches for 149 yds. How busy can Weathersfield head coach Tom Buck be? I'd say pretty busy considering he's not only head football coach but Principal at Weasthersfield as well..........

Like many who watched the 2A game between Mowequa Central A&M, and Aledo, I thought the Raiders were in total command of this game leading 24-14 at half-time. Then the roof fell in on A&M as they comitted 5 turnovers in the second half that led to the Green Dragons margin of victory. Mowequa brought a huge following with them and unfortunately they went home disappointed. Actually the two teams accounted for 14 turnovers but it was the A&M turnovers in the second half that led to their demise. Still in all it was an exciting game with plenty of hitting and lots of action....

Hall high of Spring Valley just flat came out and shut down the LeRoy Panthers. Coach Gary Vicini's Red Devils limited the Panthers to just 103 yds rushing particularly the Panther's RB Evan Coombs who had rushed for over 2000 yards and was limited to just 68 yds in 19 carries. Hall put on a textbook display of defense and it earned them another state title. I was really impressed by Rd Devils RB Levi Deber who was key on both offense and defense. Another solid game by both teams.

The Friday night cap between Driscoll and Mt Carmel (IL) was more like a boxing match where both teams felt each other out in the first quarter, came out swinging in the second, and pretty much sparred in the last two quarters before Highlander's PK Rick Albreski would boot a 19 yard FG with :10 left that would see a championship game go into OT for the first time since 1992 when Wheaton Warrenville South and JCA hooked up in a classic 5A title match. You know this was a game that could've easily ended up with the Aces taking home the trophy long before the 2 OT's if not for a Driscoll interception with 2:42 left in the game that led to the Albreski FG. Mt Carmel held the ball for 6:36 of the 4th quarter before the miscue. So the big question revolves around the Aces electing to go for the win in the second OT. Personally I would've kicked and continued on, but Coach Darren Peach as well as the team took the chance. Victor Arlis was ...well Victor Arlis. He ran hard but seriously the total offense for Driscoll was 354 yds while Mt Carmel's total was 332 so this was by far the game of the day. Driscoll gets the title becoming the first of two teams with 2 losses to win the title. More on that later.....

Rain, rain go away I thought as I looked out the window of my hotel room Saturday morning. Leaving for the stadium I couldn't forget how similar the weather was last season when JCA and Meatmora hooked up in the '00 4A game. I have to say though that the temps were much more mild almost spring like. And so the combatants the JCA Hilltoppers and the Morris Redskins would hook up for yet another classic matchup and classic it was. I have to admit I picked Morris to win this game based on the defensive quickness which I felt would give the Hill some trouble. At the same time I felt JCA would have to throw the ball to be successful against the Redskins. So when JR Zwierzynski rambled off 44 yds for a TD on JCA's first offensive play I thought well maybe they don't have to throw after all. Yet there was QB Craig Tomasino tossing a 17 yd TD pass to Mike Kolodziej which when yo come down to it was the difference points wise. JCA did throw the ball on Morris and it did result in success. And so Morris came out in their Hawaii formation and gave the Hilltoppers a bit of a scare, but in the clutch it was JR Zwiersynski time, and the all time leading rusher in JCA history came through running and slashing behind the big Hilltopper O-line. The game wasn't without a thrilling ending though as the Hilltoppers fumbled the ball away with 2:58 left in the game on their own 42, and that's when the Hilltopper defense took over. Morris could only get as far as the JCA 10 before the dream came to an end. Championship # 10 for Joliet Catholic Academy. I attended the press conference to hear Coach Dan Sharp praise his team's workmen like ethic and his thoughts on JR not only as a player but as a person and I would agree. Ten years from now we'll look back and feel fortunate to have seen such a great player. For those of you out there that have negative opinions about Morris Coach Dan Darlington, I suggest you spend a few minutes talking to the guys who IS Morris football. I could see the disappointment in his face as we talked about the Redskin's near perfection after last year's disappointment. If I had a son playing at Morris I would know he was playing for one of the all time greats in Dan Darlington. Dan Darlington is the reason Morris is what it is today......successful. Look for the Redskins to get back to Champaign next season......

Not much to say about the Providence walloping of Richards, but it was clearly obvious that the absence of Jason Orazco was huge. You hate to see it go down like this but that's the way it goes sometimes. Richards will be back. Providence? Well, they're breathing a little easier at PCHS now that the trophy is back in Celtic land. Congrats to Coach Senffer and the staff on a great season

"PROSPECT?!? Whatya picking Prospect for Edgy they never win anything!" So the post went back in August shortly after Edgy's preseason predictions came out. I have to admit I thought Prospect would do well in the MSL east, but a state title? And so the Knights complete a dream season ending up 14-0 and 7A champs. How about that George Smith? The name that's hard to remember! I mean here was a young man who was a freshman B team player and darn near quit football. I say George Smith was the high school equilivent of St. Louis Rams QB Kurt Warner. From barely known to championship leader. I watched the game on tape the other night and he just made the plays. What a story the Prospect Knights were in 2001. The question is will they build off this or was this a one time deal? I think with coached like Brett Pearlman and Joe Petricca....we'll see them again.

Sigh. I'm still stunned after 4 days that DGS beat Naperville Central. I never thought this would be a cake walk for the Redhawks, but still in all I did feel they had complete balance to take home the trophy. The truth is you have to give credit where credit is due, and that's the fact that Downers Grove South came out with a great game plan, and it worked. DGS kept the ball out of Central's hands with great offensive ball control, and what a game by Mustang Kent Hughes. Folks I'll tell you I loved watching the first 7 games but the eighth game was totally nerve racking for me as a supporter of NCHS. Still in all it was great game, and you couldn't have asked for a more exciting finish. My congratulations to Coach John Belskis and the Downers Grove South Mustangs on their first state championship and they become the first team out of the West Suburban Gold since East Leyden (now Leyden) in '77 when the WSGC was the Des Plaines Valley Conference, to win a state football title. The Eagles won 5A in '77.

Well, folks that does it for the 2001 edition of "Random Thoughts". I have enjoyed writing this column each week and receiving a lot of e mail concerning it's content. Some on the side of unhappy, but mostly pleasant. I'd like to take this time to thank all of you who followed my writing and especially to give my whole hearted thanks to a few folks namely my wife Esther who puts up with my fascination for high school football, my Boss Dale Blum Jr. a proud supporter of Romeoville Spartans football who bent over backwards for me to get away from my job to get out to many games, to the many parents I'll miss at Central like Joe and Carol Lucas, Rick and Pat Spencer, John and Liz Siciliano, Don and Barb Baskin, Big Phil and Linda Horvath, Greg and Barb Szatko, Ray and Cindy Griffith, and also Bob and Marcia Paquette and Rick and Lynn Passarelli (Rick remember when DGS was 0-9 in '79?) I'll see you guys for the next few seasons. To the many great posters I talked to like JCHILLTOPPERS, DVCFiend, and many more you guys are great. To my good fiend Patrick Pearson a former Central parent who still back the 'Hawks, thanks for your weekly critique Double P!

To Noah Stanley the Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler of Rivalshigh.com, it was an honor to meet you at the games Noah. And of course to my good friend Tim O'Halloran.....Edgytim....I thank you for this space to write and your friendship. Folks Tim is why you're reading this now.

Good luck to all the departing senior players. Some will go on to the college stage, maybe a few to the NFL. I wish you all the best. To the players yet to come, I hope you all work hard in the off season. Let's make 2002 better than this season, and then there was 1.....the high school football player......tears, toughness and triumphs.

I will return next August the Monday before the season starts for more...Random Thoughts" God bless everyone....and as always....Peace.

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