By Bobby Narang
The IHSA (Illinois High School Association) football season is down to the last, but most important week of the long and winding season.
The eight-class field concludes Friday, Nov. 24 and Saturday, Nov. 25 at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium in Normal.
Among the greater Aurora area teams, Nazareth goes in search of a second straight State championship, playing Joliet Catholic Academy in a Class 5A game at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Roadrunners (8-5) lost their first four games, then won eight of their last nine games to reach the championship game, including a 38-31 win over St. Francis in the semifinals. Nazareth veteran head coach, Tim Racki, can win his ninth State championship by knocking off the Hilltoppers (10-3).
In 6A, Cary-Grove takes on East St. Louis, while Downers Grove North will battle Mount Carmel in the 7A championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Trojans (11-2) crushed Normal Community, 42-0, in the semifinals to put themselves in position to win the program’s second State championship, the first since 2004, in Class 8A. Senior defensive end Jimmy Janicki sparked the shutout with an interception return for a touchdown. The Trojans played stellar defense and allowed 68 yards of offense to the Ironmen.
“Our defense always sets the tone,” Janicki said. “Our offense is great, too. But the defense was just fast and physical. We played hard and physical and played our best.”
In the other semifinal game, Mt. Carmel defeated Batavia with potent offense, 64-26.
Downers Grove North head coach Joe Horeni, who was the starting center on Downers Grove South’s 2001 Class 8A State championship team, said the State trip is a culmination of many years of hard work by his staff and players.
“I love this town,” Horeni said. “It’s an unbelievable place. I’m very proud of our kids and coaches for all their hard work. Our kids did a fantastic job and I’m looking forward to next week. We were very balanced offensively and played great on special teams. To get a shutout in the semifinals is unbelievable.”
Running back Noah Battle scored two touchdowns, finishing with 16 carries for 81 yards, including a five-yard TD run to give the Trojans a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Battle added an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the third quarter.
“I saw the alley and just went,” Battle said of his kickoff return TD. “We had been planning for that week. We knew it would be open for us. That was something we were ready for. We had a great week of preparation. We all were locked in. This was our last game at home, so we had to make it count. Our defense is what really puts us over the edge. We were physical and ready to hit.”
Downers Grove North star sophomore quarterback, Owen Lansu, played like a veteran by tossing three touchdown passes to three different receivers. He passed for 199 yards and three TDs
“I feel everything that could’ve gone well for us did today,” Lansu said. “The offensive line blocked great for us today. The receivers got wide open. It might have been our best game of the year for the offense. I feel as we’ve progressed through the year, we’re gotten better on offense. We’re starting six sophomores on offense, so it’s taken a little bit of time for us to open our offense up. (Battle) Noah is an all-State running game and a great player, so when we’re able to pass the ball, it’s really tough to stop our offense.”
In Class 8A, Loyola Academy advanced to play Lincoln-Way East at 7 p.m. Saturday in the State championship game.