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Josh fills like a long time ago, you know, back in August,
we're getting preview content ready and the optimism and just excitement of high school
football has started. And now we're at a point where we're in that final
week where a lot of state championship dreams are going to be realized. And
it's just been a hack of a ride and a lot of fun. So
for everybody that's been listening to our Friday Night Drive Western Shoppers podcast is always
thanks so much for making us for part of your afternoon. You can follow
us on Twitter at Jake Barleston at j WELG ninety six Josh. Before we
get started on a busy semi final, we'll obviously look ahead to Champagne.
I think we got a touch on the weather and what the last couple of
weeks have been like, you know, affecting game outcomes and whatnot. Yeah,
it's funny. You know. I was telling you before that that throughout
the regular season, I thought it's the best regular season weatherwise that I can
ever remember. I mean, I agree, we just had great weather week
in a week out, hardly any rain. Um. You know, Balmy,
I remember Week nine covering game in shorts, which is unheard of.
Um. It has certainly not been the case in the last few weeks for
the playoffs. Um. Last Saturday. Um, you know, I've been
covering football for twenty six years, and that's the coldest game or weather for
a game I can ever recall. Um. I mean it was twenty degrees
at kickoff at Elmhurst. And on top of it, at Plunkett Park,
they only have bleachers on one side of the of the field, so there
isn't that bleacher element to block out the wind. So the wind was coming
in, um and uh and making it a little bit more uncomfortable throughout the
game. But just really really bitter, bitter cold. And I will say,
I don't think it really a fact to the outcome of my game,
which I was happy to see. I mean, that's the one thing you
don't want. I mean, nobody likes to sit through twenty two b weather,
but you know, as long as it's not a big effect on a
game, and you know, you kind of lived through it. But it
was cold. It was definitely cool. I had. I had two pairs
of sweatpants on. I'm a layers guy. I'm not a big coke guy
covering football. So I had two thermals, three sweatshirts, hood hat,
scarf. I mean, I was totally layered up and I had I had
to switch on my handwarmers at half. I had two in each glove.
I still was cold, So it really goes to show how kind of nuts
it was. Yeah, I was definitely doing the layers thing. And unlike
some sports traders who really really brave the elements, I am not afraid to
go into a press box if the weather makes it where you need to.
But um, I see Catholic preps press box. Let's just say it's about
as big as my closet at home, so you're not gonna get too many
people in there for a football game. But I was on the sidelines just
like a lot of the other sports writers. But so a lot of good
football last Saturday in the cold. It looks like this Saturday in Champagne and
this Friday it's gonna be a little bit more typical conditions for November in the
forties. So uh, you know, don't think that the weather is going
to play a big factor. But uh, but but yeah, certainly an
interesting last Saturday. Um, Jake a lot of football last last weekend.
Last Saturday. Um, you were up in lake Zurich to see Batavia.
Um, sort of a rematch. They've seen each other a few times over
the playoffs, um the last few years. Uh, you know, but
what were you see? Obviously Batavia coming out with a big win. So
for starters, UM, you know, I thought the way the game started
where you know, Batavia had a couple of mistakes fumbles. Uh, you
know, lake Zurich able to took a quick lead and then you know,
Batavia able to get it back. Um. But the one thing Batavia was
really able to do was kind of stabilize and open up their passing game,
which I think really helped them. Where Lake Zurich you know, tried to
do some passing but it just wasn't as effective. But Batavia was able to
break off some chunk plays, and as coach Jannis Peron you know, pointed
out, they had respect the past, so you couldn't jam pack the box
with you know, seven eight defenders. You kind of had to spread out
the field a little bit. And then from there Batavia was able to do
its damage. I mean, they going into the half of the lead,
and then Batavia gets the ball to open the third quarter that first play,
Tyler James, he just burst through for a seventy two yard touchdown in the
first play, and I felt like that was a huge momentum thing where it
just gave a lot of breathing room and then the defense could fly around and
not play so we can't make a mistake type feel, and then they were
just able to kind of, you know, grind out the clock running wise.
So overall, I mean it was a pretty Batavia game, I would
say, running the football, stopping the run, able to get a couple
of big pass plays, a couple of punts. Charlie Well, I mean,
we keep talking about him. He gets just he just flips the fields
sometimes. And so it was the way Batavia wanted to win. Lake Zerk
did play well at stretches, but clearly they needed to get more first downs
and then they didn't. Yeah, I mean, Tavia gets the lead and
then they turn it over. The defense is really strong. And Tyler jan
Zy, I mean he's a kid that, um, you know, late
in the year they turned him a little bit more running football, and obviously
he's a very talented kid. And and from what appears to me, it
sounds like he had a pretty big game for them, obviously, and the
really long touchdown run which really gave put Tavia in the driver's seat last weekend.
Yeah, um, you know, we've talked about it before, but
Patavia always seems to have one or two extra wrinkles and in their offense,
uh, you know, come playoff time. And I've covered him long enough
where it goes from you know, Matt Wortz to Quinn or a Whiler to
uh you know, Michael jan Zy, his brother in the twenty seventeen playoffs
are now getting his moments. So I mean, it's it's just pretty neat
to see, um, you know, just from a human element where a
lot of those guys were in seventh eighth grade when Batavia won that state title
of twenty seventeen. I remember talking to Ryan Whitwell, at the end of
the game, he was a seventh grade water boy, you know, on
the sidelines for it, and you know, he's up front and gets to
see that action. And now he's going to be playing in a state championship
game of his own. So I know everybody has their own little kind of
story and wrinkled to that, but I think it's kind of neat, it
really is. I mean, obviously, Tyler James's older brother was a part
of a lot of success Patavia as well, and uh, you know,
but now this, this current edition of Bulldogs is kind of making their own
mark and getting that program um, you know, back to state and back
to obviously a ring matchup will talk about later in a podcast with Mount carmel
Um. So, you know, a very good win from Batavia and congratulations
to them moving on to Champagne while they'll be playing on Saturday afternoon. Jake,
you mentioned a little bit of a wrinkle with Batavia with Tyer jan Z.
Well, I'm going to talk about Iccathley and prop and let's just say
that they've they've had quite a bit of a wrinkle with the young man by
the name of Joey Guyata that we talked about in the podcast last week.
He's a kid that had through the first eleven games of the season, he
had six carries total UM, and then he came u sort of out of
nowhere as an offensive player, had a huge game in their overtime win against
Princeton. I really came into last Saturday's game curious to see that, you
know, was it was it just kind of a one day thing where they
really, we're gonna feed the hot hand or you know, maybe there's an
injury or something that we don't know about. Not the case. I mean,
he was front and center as their as their lead back, um Denzel
Gibson, who's sort of been there, their leading rusher out the year.
He did play, Um, he got a few carries, had a couple
of touches in a passing game, played some defense. But to me,
I mean, they found something with him and he is not a boy.
I'll tell you what they said. He was the third string running back.
Well, what he's a pretty darn good third string running back because he you
know, second play from scrimmage, forty four yard game, uh, two
plays later, scored the touchdown. He goes on to run for one hundred
and ninety two yards and four touchdowns. Um, you know, it's funny.
I mean I'm on the sidelines and I'm talking to their their sad guys,
and they kind of look like their set guys kind of look like that
that kid at Christmas that got that Christmas present that they weren't expecting to get,
but now that they really wanted, they just want to keep playing with
it all night long. So I mean, he's just it's just really an
exciting thing to see. And then, um, a lot of his teammates
on the sidelines, you know, after he had a big play, they
start with the yelling calling him Joey Football, which is pretty awesome to see.
But he is just I mean, you know, you'll you'll see if
you watch the game on Friday, just a really good, you know,
cutback runner. Patient. I mean, he had a couple of runs where
the play it was maybe to the right, there was nothing there, and
on a dime he just took it the other way gone just I mean,
he had a four yard touchdown run which doesn't seem like much, but again
nothing was there to the right, and on a dime, cut back left
and it was right there, which you know, I don't know. I
mean, he's a junior in high school, and it's it's a town,
it's a skill and uh, you know, a very patient runner in the
meantime, and his coach Bill Kreft said that, you know, when you're
patient like that, then sometimes the holes open up for you, and and
and they have for him, and you know what a story. I mean,
he's just you know, seemingly come out of nowhere. I mean,
I will say, come out of nowhere. He is their second leading tackle
or as a linebacker. In addition to one hundred and ninety two yards,
he had nine tackles last weekend. He's also an All state wrestler. UM,
so you know a lot of times you see those guys translate to the
football field, you know pretty well, and certainly has for him. But
uh, you know, obviously he's been a huge story for them. Um,
they're able to to avenge a loss that they had to Buyron last year
at one point loss in big fashion thirty five to nothing. Besides Joey Gouliota,
you know, probably the attorney point in the game is icy Catholic was
leading seven to nothing in the first half, Byron had a twenty two play
drive that that they had the ball for sixteen minutes and they got eight first
downs at the drive. But then they had a fourth and goal to three.
Their quarterback through a little play action pass Jesse Smith, Icy Catholics middle
linebacker intercepted in the end zone. Byron was sort of never the same after
that. It's sort of like that huge you know, the balloons, the
balloons were let out of the tires after that play. You know, Ice
came back and they scored right away. Joey guliatic and scored a touchdown.
M They had a long touchdown pass early in the third quarter and then icy
Catholic was off to the races and notably U they won thirty five to nothing.
And their star All state wide receiver kJ Parker, I don't think he
had a cash If he did, he had one catch, so um,
pretty impressive that they were able to do what they did with, you know,
probably their most standout player really not doing a whole lot. Yeah,
not being the big factor in a you know, in a game like that,
and the weather probably played a factor into that as well. I mean,
and you know, you feed a hot hand and obviously Joey Quad is
a hot hand right now. But you know, I see Catholic rolls into
the finals with really impressive win last Saturday. Well, I mean, you
got to have three or four options in the backfield at this stage in the
game. You know, in playing Illinois playoff football, it's the weather's cold.
You got to be able to run the football, and injuries happen and
next man up and you need that. And and certainly he's emerged to be,
you know, certainly more than just a you know, a guy that
you feed every once in a while, you have, you have something and
take off with them. Yeah, and I know there's other people staying on
sidelines too, I mean, you know, fresh legs. I mean,
he hasn't carried the ball all year, la, I mean and and uh
and and you know, I fully expect him to get a lot of touches
on Friday because he's hot right now. And they're gonna he told me after
the game Friday, he said, you know, guys, you open holes.
Form you you walk from me, you open holes. We're gonna go
a long way. And obviously they're going places right now. Sou So,
congratulations to the Knights. And yeah, and and the do you want to
go out to four A? Yeah, you know, so four A matchup.
I you know, one of many last Saturday that I thought was you
know, sort of a coin flip game between Saint Francis, um, you
know, getting into the to the semifinals against the Providence team who you know,
forget the Seeds, throw out the Seeds. I mean, um,
uh, you know they would be enjoyed a Catholic in the in the second
round and then Richmond Burton in the quarterfinals. And it was a game that
came down to the wire. I mean Saint Francis led deep into the fourth
quarter, but then Providence store to light. They have been throughout the playoffs.
You know, they just made plays that they needed to make and uh
you know they they advanced. So um, obviously very difficult loss for Saint
Francis, but you know, I do believe they're going to be back.
You know, they're building something and I think before you know it, we're
going to be seeing them playing Champagne or wherever the state finals are. I
think so too. I mean, just reading over the game story, they
you know, had the lead, it seemed I mean it was close but
it was comfortable. A late interception kind of sealed it because they got down
into the red zone, you think, and they might be able to steal
a big play and obviously Providence made the one they needed too. So,
um, you know, disappointing end for Saint Francis. I know they wanted
it to end in Champagne, but I completely agree with you. Foundations definitely
there. They're there. If they're not one year away, they're they're two
years away. I mean, it depends on talent and all. It all
comes together. But keep knocking on the door. Eventually that you're gonna knock
that door down. It's just a matter of time in my opinion, before
they exactly exactly. So I know it wasn't the way that the Saint Francis
faithful wanted it to happen, but I do think it'll get there, you
know, bumping up to five a here, Josh, like, I gotta
give you credit. I mean, we could probably go back to week seven,
week maybe even before then. And you know we were talking about if
you're an opposing team, I don't think you want to play you know,
Nazareth and every single week throughout this postseason they have proven you correct on that
and they're able to not only steal a perfect season away from from Sycamore,
but they were the you know, knock them off, you know, the
second year in a row for for Sycamore, you know, in the state
semifinals and pull out a win. I thought impressed the two from Nazareth is
that, you know, they really haven't been challenged during this long winning streak
that they have. I mean, that's the impressive thing. They went from
two and four to the semifinals and they've kind of I don't want to say
breeze, but they've blown out pretty much everybody along the way. But you
knew going into Sycamore their defense is really, really tough, that they were
not going to score a lot of points and they were going to have to
really play you know, whatever you want called an ugly type game, a
defensive minded game, and darneth they did. I mean, their their defense
held up and and I was wondering if they would because that's a really young
Nazareth team. I mean, they start a sophomore quarterback, They're they're running
back is a sophomore. Two receivers or sophomores, you know, their best
defensive lineman is a sophomore. They have a freshman in the secondary. I
mean, you get the point. They're a real young team. And to
go on the road to an environment where Sycamore, I mean, you can
know Sycamore was just chopping on a bid. They they thought this was a
year, their year to take it to the next step. But Nazareth hangs
in there, hangs in there, hangs in there, and then in the
fourth quarter they put the ball in the hands of their stud Justin Taylor and
he gets about a thirty yard run, sets up a touchdown path slogan malcheck
to Zach Kayes, who I know they're young, but Zach Hayes is not
one of the young players. And he's a senior kind of like Charlie Wepley,
where he does a little bit of this for Nasawreth, he does a
little bit of that. He'll run the ball, he'll kick field goals,
he'll cash passes, he'll play defense, you know, one of those kind
of glue guys and that team, and obviously he makes it play late for
naz and they're going back to States and uh, you know, wow,
what an accomplishment. I mean, you know, a couple of years ago
when they had you know, JJ and Tyler Morris and all those guys and
and UH and uh and Julian Love. I mean, it was kind of
wasn't really a surprise at all, and it was almost like like, Okay,
you know, when are we going to see them, and when's the
game gonna be? You know this. On the other hand, I mean
I'm not surprised. Clearly we talked about that. I thought they were a
dangerous team, but to go from two and four to be playing in the
state championship game, I mean, you really gotta it, really takes it.
You really gotta dig deep, and you really got to stay committed to
what your coaches are telling you. And you know, we just got to
stick with it. You know, we're gonna get to where we want to
go. And I give I give coach Tim Racki and his and his coaching
staff and those kids a lot of credit because, I mean, the league
that they play in, you get to two and four, you know,
you might not see the light of the end of the tunnel, but obviously
they did and they're playing for a state title on Saturday morning. I mean,
honestly, it's kind of the same vein with with Batavia. You know,
I talked to Ryan went Well at the end of the game and they
were one and two, and he's like, hey, listen, you know
there were some guys that were kind of questioning, like what are we and
for better for worse, they they banned it together and you know, they
find themselves in Champagne too. So I think sometimes you can have early season
struggles and that really that can make or break a team. Right. You
could have guys that could say, oh, you know what, we're two
and four, it's not a good season. We're just gonna try to end
it. Or there's other guys that say, you know what, no,
we're gonna get this together. And then you see the end result absolutely so.
Um, you know, congratulations to Nazareth going back, Um, you
know state congratulations to Sycamore as well. I got to give them, you
know, typic Cabin. You know, they've run into you know, a
couple of really difficult opponents in the semifinals the last couple of years, and
and they had a fantastic season. Um, speaking of teams that had great
years that they you know, let's just be honest, they ran into juggernaut
buzza juggernaut type of opponents. I mean Lamont, York and Glenbard West all
very good teams. Um. You know, Lamont and York was undefeated one
Bard West had just one loss coming last Saturday against York. But uh,
you know, I'll start with Lamont. Um, so maybe under the radar,
I think everybody was kind of looking at Okay, you know it's it's
East Saint Louis's Brackett, you know, and who who do they have to
face the next But I don't know if you saw it. Jake Lamont gave
him all they wanted. I mean, Lamont was leading fourteen and nothing we
talked about it. We were leading into the second half. I believe they
were leading into the fourth quarter, um um. And then East Saint Louis.
I mean their offensive line is just enormous. They put the ball in
the hands of a sophomore running back. He runs for three hundred and fifty
three hundred and seventy five yards, but that line and they pulled off.
But I had to give Lamont a ton of credit because you know, after
East Saint Louis demolished Creet Money in the quarterfinals, I didn't really know what
to expect from Lamant. I didn't really give them the maybe the chance that
they should have got. But you know a lot of credit for them pushing
East Saint Louis the way they did. Yeah. No, I mean I
haven't had a chance to totally study it, but I can't tell you that.
Um, that was talked about on the sideline with a couple of people
I was chatting with. We were like, whoa, yeah, we were
totally paying attention to that. Yeah, and I know Lamont's very successful head
coach is you know, retiring at the end of the year. He's had
a great run for them. Um, they had a great run this year.
Peyton Salmon or quarterback, just had a fantastic year. No tail or
really fine player for them as well. So congratulations to Lamont on a very
good year. Another team we talked about a lot in this podcast, York.
I actually got to get over to the first half of that game since
it was about a half mile away from from the Icy Catholic game. You
know, York running into Loyola and I mean similar to East Saint Louis,
And you know, I saw Loyal before the game, and then early in
the game, and they're just so big. I mean an offensive line looks
like a small college offensive line. I mean it's probably two fifty across the
board. And then Brooks bear their defensive end that's going in Michigan. I
mean, he's one of the more impressive physical I don't want to say specimens
physically gifted kids that I've seen on a high school fields. Six foot six
and two hundred and seventy pounds, and he does and he looks every bit
of it. But anyway, so you know, York was going up against
it was going up against the powerhouse. But you know, it was still
they were right there for about a quarter and a half. They had kicked
the field goal. It was seven to three. But then I thought probably
the biggest play of the game was Loyal gets the ball back and it hit
a seventy yard touchdown pass on a dep fly. And I told Scotchman,
who was covering the game for US, I said, you know, they
just couldn't give up plays like that. I mean, it's gonna be difficult
to stop them physically on the line um, but in a game like that,
you know that that that kind of stuff just you just can't give it
out because it's so deflating. And then Lamart, we all ended up going
seventeen to three and a half and they go on to win. So you
know, obviously not the way York wanted the season at end, but what
a season it was. I mean talking about they were twelve and oh going
in first perfect regular season in one hundred two year history of the program,
most wins in the history of the program, and you know, similar to
a Saint Francis. I mean, they're gonna run into Juggernauts every year in
eight Ay, but we haven't heard the last from York. I mean,
I think they're a program that's that's here to stay and and and you know,
who knows, maybe they'll be playing for a state titled down the Road.
Yeah, I completely agree. You know, again, I haven't had
a total chance to study the game story, but um, I agree with
you. You can't give up the big play. If you're gonna if you're
gonna pull off a win, it's you're gonna play. You're gonna not play
dirty, but you're gonna you're gonna do this small things really well. You're
gonna limit the run game. You're gonna force turnovers, flip field position,
you know, field goals, that type of stuff you get get to get
down in the mud, is what I'm really trying to say. You can't
give up those big plays. So now you can't. And if you know,
a few calls didn't go their way, and I mean in a game
like that, physical game, I mean it it sometimes it doesn't happen that
way, but it doesn't take anything away from York or for that manner,
Loyola. I mean, and I think everybody that studies high school football thought
at the beginning of the playoffs, um that Loyola and Lincoln we East we're
sort of on a collision course in the eight A Bracken. And it appears
that's going to be the case because Lincoln we East. Um you know,
Glenbard West led early in that game. But then Lincoln and we East,
I mean, they just keep just keep doing what they do. And I
you know, I really thought Glenmard West is gonna need to score some points
to have an opportunity to win that game. But to be able to hold
Glenbard West is one touchdown is a pretty darn impressive accomplishment, no doubt.
I mean, We've talked about Gunbard West each week, and they have guys
that they can throw at you and hurt you in a lot of ways and
be able to limit them just to that one score. I think it says
so much about what Lincoln Way East is about it really is and Lincoln Way
East Loyola. I mean, you know it's going to be the last game
of the weekend, and boy, we're kind of building towards a pretty great
finish between those two programs. Yeah, I know, we'll talk about it
on the other side, but the one thing I will say from an overarching
standpoint is the Titans are meeting, you know, at the end of at
the end of the final. I mean, I think everybody loves a good,
feel good story here and there, you know, you have a team
that kind of comes out of nowhere and might shock the world. This is
a this is a finals bracket, and we'll again, we'll talk about it.
The Titans are meeting, and now it's the fight from an olympus,
so to speak, no doubt about it. Even when we're talking about a
Nazareth or a Providence. I mean, look, these are programs that have
been here for they know how to get there and it's not. I mean,
you know, it's a great story that Nazareth with two and four,
but they're here now. But I mean we're not shocked. I mean,
if you would have told me to start in the playoffs the NASA is gonna
be in Champagne, I would have said, like, yeah, that's definitely
even. You know, you look at Batavia. I know a lot of
people get caught up in seeds that really don't file this too much, but
I mean when I lived at a bracket, I lived at Batavia, and
I said, I think they have an excellent chance at getting Champagne. The
bracket kind of you know, lined up for them to get there if they
could get buy a couple tough opponents, and they did so, um,
yeah, it should make it for a really great weekend. I mean,
I know people love to see the underdogs and things like that, but you
know the sort of silver lining when the underdogs and a lot of the favorites
and the Titans win, is you get a really good ending. And I
think we're gonna get a really good last weekend. Absolutely, So we'll talk
about that on the other side of this break. So don't go anywhere.
We're talking Champagne State Finals. Jake Barlison, Josh Wagi will be right back.
Schweiker, Gannison, Krizak Rundio proudly sponsors to Friday Night Drive. I'm
Mike Krazak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take them the
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After a quick break on Champagne, Looking ahead, Josh, I think
we'll start in three a Ice Catholic has got Williamsville twelve and one, both
of them going in this one. They play at four o'clock. We've talked
about Icy Catholic a lot this season, but what's gonna what's it gonna take
to pull down that trophy. I think it's gonna take them doing what they
have been doing. I mean, I think if they stick to who they
are and to their identity, and now obviously their identity is a little bit
different than it was a couple of weeks ago with the ministers of Joey Kuyatta
than Um. You know, I think they're they have an excellent chance to
win State. I think there is a fair amount of people that thought that
the person that the team that comes out of the north half of that bracket
and three A was going to be the favorite to win it. With its
respect to Williamsville, they have been here before. They do have success playing
at state into getting to State. So, um, you know, by
no means do I think they're a pushover. But I do think icy catholic.
I mean even after that game, I mean, they obviously they're happy
to win that game, but quickly their head coach Bill Kraft was like,
all right, we're not just going there to go there. We're going there
to win. And it's not like a coach saying that hasn't been there before.
I mean, he knows they won three straight state titles from twenty sixteen
to twenty eighteen. This particular group of young men were not part of any
of those teams. So obviously they want to, you know, similar to
the Batavi guys that we talked about earlier, I think they want a piece
of their own history. But you know, I think more Jobeyague at it.
I think he's a kid that I mean, it's gonna be fun to
see him on a big, big stage, you know, in Champagne like
that at kJ Parker I mentioned he had kind of a quiet game last weekend
in the Elements. I have a feeling we're not going to see a quiet
game from him this Friday. I think the unleashed. I think you just
see kJ Parker unleashed because him and Dennis Mandola have been a pretty special and
dynamic combination that I don't know if you see in too many places in the
in the three A bracket, their defense has been really good. Um,
you know what, we'll see what happens if turnovers and things like that can
always always affect a game. You never know how um you know, things
that are going to react if if things start to go south early. But
but boy, the way that the way I see Catholic approached their game last
weekend against Buyer and who's obviously a great team. You know, I really
like their chances. They're playing very good football right now. They definitely looked
at the part and they back it up. In the five A game,
we have Nazareth. We talked about them. They play Peoria twelve and one,
Nazareth coming in nine to four forget the records. This would be the
first game on Saturday at ten am in Champagne. You know, we've talked
about kind they're a younger team with Nazareth. To me, and maybe you
can speak to this a little bit more. I'm more interested to see how
they start. Are we going to see false start penalties, backup offensive drives?
Are we going to see, you know, maybe the defense give up
ten yard chunks and just start a little bit slower. To me, I
think just the temple of how this game starts will tell us a lot come
third fourth quarter. The other thing too, is that, I mean they
are able to win a low scoring, slugfest type of game with Sycamore.
I really do not expect a similar type of game with Peoria because did you
see the score from Peoria last week? I did not. They put up
seventy six points. Oh that's right, I did, actually did sort.
I mean I believe they gave up. They gave up fifty six. It
was like fifty six or something, fifty six or somebody, and they scored
seventy six. I mean they are a team. I mean, I would
say as much as any team this weekend that I'm looking forward to seeing I
would say their one and obviously I'm looking forward to seeing that running back for
Prairie Rich is that, um, you know, such a big season.
But you know, seventy six points wow. Um And and they've been doing
it a lot. They've really kind of rolled. So clearly Nazareth is going
to have to score some points, you would think, um, But um,
I do think that their defense as the ability to to at least slow
them down. I mean, I look back to Week one where Kankie Key
came in a ton of great skill position guys, teams coming back from a
state runner last year, Nazareth shut them out. They want two to nothing.
Um. And not that I expect two to nothing, but I do
think nazareth defense, you know, they're gonna need to kind of slow them
down. You know, Nazareth's gonna, you know, need to avoid the
turnovers U you know, like we talked about it before. We kind of
a young team. We'll see how they react in a situation like this.
I will say they have the benefit they have a veteran coach, Tim Raki
has been here many, many many times, so he can prepare them,
you know, for a game like this, you know, we'll see It's
definitely a game that I'm looking forward to. I like nazarous chances, but
Peoria they've they've been rolling, and you know, you obviously cannot discount a
team that just scored seventy six points in a semifinal, no doubt. Zoom
is telling us eight minutes and forty five seconds left, So we'll just bump
it up to seven A Batavia Mount Carmel. Listen, I could have told
you week one, even before the start of the season, if the bracket's
gonna play out a certain way and Batavia is at the end of it,
I guarantee you they they were gonna say we want Mount Carmel by virtue of
what happened last year. We've talked about it enough. I think I think
they genuinely want to turn the page. Last year was last year. We
get it. They lost in controversial fashion, calls didn't go their way,
game could have been over, it wasn't, and they lose. That being
said, new year and they just want to move forward. So what's it
gonna take for Patavia to win a game like this? I think as long
as they limit the self inflicted mistakes, typically They've been a pretty organized team.
But if you start getting false starts and you start getting holds and stuff
like that, and it eats away, it drives. Patavia does get some
stretches where they have to punt the football quite a bit, and you know,
some of that gets stalled. You really can't afford those types of things
against Mount Carmelo, and they've been able to kind of roll things through all
years. So limit the mistakes. Obviously they're gonna ride whit Well and Tyler
jan Zy. You're gonna need a big game up front. I think this
is gonna be I think this is gonna be a classic one of those things
where we talk about, you know, four or five years down the line.
And also I think, you know, Patavia's defense is gonna have to
play, you know, their best game of the year because they mean,
Aunt Carmel is going to present challenges offensively from Carmelo's offensively. You know,
I just don't think Patavia has seen all year. I mean, I trying
to think of who they played the schedule wise, that could even compare to
Way Lincoln with East maybe, I mean, they would probably be the closest,
but yeah, Mount Carmel you know tradition, their Mount Carmel is traditionally
is a team that, hey, we got to stop the run. This
is a different Mount Carmel team. I mean, they're they're a team that
can can put the ball in the air with their quarterback, Planey Dowling.
He's had a huge, huge season. Saint Rita was able to hold them
down for a long part of the game. UM last week, UM so
kind of interested to see how Mount Carmel responds to that. But Batavia's defense,
which is a very good defense, is going to have to play their
best game of the year, and not only the guys up front, the
guys in the second area too, because they're going to be the guy They're
gonna really be challenged when Mount Carmel goes to the air. Yeah, real
quickly. I think the other underrated thing is and I think this you can
you can apply this across to any any team at this stage. You got
to keep the emotions in check. You know, you can't sideline infractions and
all that type of stuff. I mean I was at the game last week,
and I mean everybody was on the track for Batavia, like way far
behind in the line. Those types of things, just limit, limit all
the impediments that could affect, you know, feel position later. So it'll
be really interesting. I'll be there for that one. I'm sure you will
be too. That's a that'll be at four o'clock on Saturday. And then
with about five minutes left, eight Day with Lincoln Way East and Loyola another
classic in the making. Yeah, I mean I I you know, typically
when those like eight Days and the powers get together, just not a ton
of scoring. Um, you know, we'll see if it's different this time.
But you know, I've only got to see a half of Loyola very
pressed to them, but when Lincoln Ways has been able to do kind of
speaks for itself. I mean, we're set up for a you know,
you know, great game. And quickly back to the TV game. You
know, I think most people are probably saying, Okay, Mount Carmelo's definitely
a favorite here and we expect them to win. Catholic Wague and all that
stuff, but it's our call asking. I mean, Saint Rita playing Wheaton
North, I wasn't really sure how much I was giving Wheaton North the chance,
and then they come in and win that game, so um, you
know, we'll see Batavia. I mean, they've seen Mount Carmel. I
think the fact that they have seen Mount Carmel recently, I don't think that
hurts them. I know it wasn't this year, but I like the fact
that they've seen them recent late, so it's not like maybe it's been a
shock to their system what they're seeing. And I also like the fact that
they've been there before. Maybe not these guys, but coach Bernan has been
there before. He's had success in as one of the best in the business.
Um, you know, you know, obviously he kind of pulls out
different things in big game situations. So um, you know, obviously you
know Mount Karma has to be considered the favorite in this game. But you
know, I do think it's gonna be a very good game. Yeah,
I mean, we got to live at a time I think, you know,
kind of going back to what my football notebook was, you know,
I had in this game with Lake Zurich or their game. Um, you
know, I asked Matt home about, like, hey, how much does
film looking back to last year? How much does that really help you in
preparation? And he's like, you know, it might help with going back
and seeing what they thought would work against you and maybe being prepared for that.
But for the most part, I don't think they're gonna be I don't
think they're gonna be really relying so much on their you know, their playoff
tape last year. I think they're gonna be looking at these last two games
in particular and really pound it out from there, no doubt. I mean,
it's it's gonna be a lot of fun. You know, we'll be
here, We'll be there in Champagne this weekend. Our entire crew will be
our We're gonna have a whole army of Friday Night Drive Sean media writers and
photographers there as well. So make sure you're following along. Um, we're
gonna have Jake and I are gonna have features of our local teams this coming
this week. We'll have state championship game previews coming on Friday, UM,
so make sure you're following that. Kyle and Kyle Neighbors and Steve Susy will
be back with their podcast later in this week. And then make sure you're
following around because we'll be covering all eight championship games. I mean, obviously
we're gonna be special focused on our local teams in western suburbs. But Friday
Night Drive we'll be covering all eight championship games. Yep. They'll have the
game stories for at least four of those, so a lot of fun.
All right. That'll do it for us this week on the Champagne. Everybody
get excited, because I know we are, so we'll see on the other
side of this thing that as always, Thanks so much for making us a
part of your afternoon. Have a great safe travels down to Champagne for those
that do make the trip, and we'll check in next week. There'll be
some state championships to talk about. Schweiker Gannison Krizak Rundio proudly sponsors to Friday
Night Drive. I'm Mike Krazak. If you've been injured, we are ready
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