By Bobby Narang
Oswego High School football coach Brian Cooney is headed back to the State championship game.
This time, Cooney won’t be wearing a uniform.
Cooney was a standout linebacker on Oswego’s 1992 Class 4A State championship team, and was a volunteer assistant coach on the 7A State title team in 2003. With the Oswego Panthers headed back to battle against Mount Carmel (13-0) in the Saturday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. Class 8A State title.
The Mount Carmel Caravan will enter the game as big favorites after winning three straight 7A State titles.
“We’re not the flashiest outfit,” Cooney said. “We still believe in running the football. We had a lot of big plays this year, a lot of dynamic plays on offense, which is not like us. We are more like three years and a cloud of dust.”
A big topic during the IHSA State interview call session on Monday was the private/public stuff debate, a nearly annual discussion due to the numerous State title wins by private schools in the last few decades.
“I’m proud of our kids,” Cooney said. “I’m proud of our community…If you are going to live inside these boundaries, we are going to love you hard, but coach you hard. I’m looking forward to this opportunity on Saturday with our kids.”
The Panthers (11-2) entered the season with just three returning starters from last season, but defied expectations behind a solid group of players, then upset Maine South in the playoffs and knocked off Lockport 10-7 in the semifinals. Oswego’s defense was the key in the win over Lockport, allowing just 185 yards of total offense.
Sophomore Ammar Banire is a player to watch against Mount Carmel. He had a 63-yard touchdown run against Lockport, finishing with 18 attempts for 118 yards.
“We had people around here ask if this was a rebuild year,” Cooney said. “We don’t really do that.”