WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:04.919 SGKR Injury Attorneys proudly sponsors the Friday Night Drive. I 2 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:07.000 met round you. We are ready to take on the 3 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:08.800 insurance company for you and get. 4 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.039 You to the end zone. Visit us G A n 5 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:14.960 A s SI dot com, Gannison dot com. 6 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:18.239 This is State Representative Steve Reich. Since twenty sixteen. It's 7 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:20.920 been my privilege to represent the sixty third district in 8 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:24.239 the Illinois House. I'd like to continue representing you, and 9 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:26.519 I'm asking for your vote on November fifth. 10 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:29.320 Thank you pay for by citizens to elect Stephen Reich. 11 00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:34.000 Hello everybody, and welcome to the Friday Night Drive Western 12 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:37.520 Suburbs podcast. I'm Josh Well get here with Joe. Bennett's 13 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:39.840 taving this on Monday afternoon, a little bit early this week. 14 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:43.320 Obviously a different schedule Thanksgiving, but a lot of football 15 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:45.159 to talk about. Joe, how are you doing today? 16 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:50.679 I'm still trying to recover from some pretty crazy games 17 00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:53.520 last week, so I'm excited to talk about them. 18 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:56.560 Certainly, a lot of crazy games, a lot of crazy finishes. 19 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.399 You were there for one of them. We'll talk about 20 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:00.719 in a few minutes, But Joe, I want to start 21 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:04.719 with that Class eight A semifinal York Napleville Central and 22 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:08.439 really one of the craziest finishes I've ever seen. Just 23 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:10.560 talking to a colleague of ours, John Sally, he's never 24 00:01:10.599 --> 00:01:13.439 seen it before either. I don't know if you saw it. 25 00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:15.920 The game was on to you, so credit to those 26 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:19.040 guys for having a game on TV. But to set 27 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:22.560 the stage, York was leading the game twenty to thirteen, 28 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:25.000 just a few seconds left and they had a fourth 29 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:28.719 and one at their forty three yard line, and instead 30 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:32.000 of going for the punt and risking everything associated with 31 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:35.599 the punt, York snaps the ball to their quarterback, Bruno Massol. 32 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:39.200 You know, he's a state caliber sprinter, as you know, 33 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:42.879 and he just ran backwards. He ran backwards forty three 34 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:47.760 yards all the way to the end zone and fortunately 35 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:51.959 there's ten seconds left and time expired right before you know, 36 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:54.400 he was tackled, or right as he was being tackled, actually, 37 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:58.120 and that was the end of the game and the 38 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:01.120 final score was twenty to fifteen. Again, Joel, I have 39 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:04.120 never seen that play before. I was talking to a few, 40 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:06.599 you know, just kind of hearing from different people. There 41 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.599 was some people that said that was brilliant, amazing. The 42 00:02:09.639 --> 00:02:11.879 best thing they've ever seen. There was other people where 43 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:14.080 like what was he doing? What would what if he 44 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:16.800 fumbled they could have scored. But man, what a wild 45 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:20.280 finish and it sends York to state football championship for 46 00:02:20.280 --> 00:02:21.560 the first time in school history. 47 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:26.439 Yeah, I mean credit to that, Credit to brutal massle there. 48 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:29.400 And they obviously taking you know, a giant hit in 49 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:34.439 the stats department with that rushback. But I mean, you know, 50 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:37.439 credit to him for you know, being farm enough to 51 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:40.159 you know, have that play happen because obviously there's still 52 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:43.039 time left on the clock. You know, anything could happen, 53 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:46.120 especially in the state semifinal game. You know, there could 54 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:48.520 be a chance of you know, hail Mary, a block 55 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:52.759 fund stuff like that, so you know, to be able 56 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:54.719 to run out those final ten seconds of the clock. 57 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:58.159 And I mean, you know, I was looking at the 58 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:00.919 play because I did end up seeing the replay of it, 59 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:02.520 and you know, there was a good chance that he 60 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:04.439 could have actually been tackled in the end zone with 61 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:06.560 like three seconds left. They had a couple of Aporville 62 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:09.400 Central guys who you know, we're right on him as 63 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:11.639 he made it back there. But you know, he made 64 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:14.599 sure to stay elusive stayed up on the seat and 65 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:17.360 as soon as the clockhead zero step out of bounds. 66 00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:20.199 You know, very smart play there, and you know, run 67 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:22.159 a way to get to the state title game for 68 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:23.439 the first time in school history. 69 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:26.000 I know, it's funny. When I was watching live, it's 70 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:27.280 one of those things where it's like a horror MOVI 71 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:28.840 where the running away from the bad guys and are 72 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:30.159 they going to make it, be able to make it 73 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:33.039 and be able to make it a tie and and 74 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:35.919 get out alive. And obviously they did. But man, Bruno Massel, 75 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:37.840 he's a kid that you know. I've had a chance 76 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:39.439 to see him live a few times this year. Got 77 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:41.919 obviously got to see him on TV. Kid just makes 78 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:45.719 plays running the football and passing in football. You mentioned 79 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:48.199 took a stats hit. He had about three hundred yards 80 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:51.199 of offense before that for that last play, and that 81 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:54.400 last play was a pretty good minus forty three for him. 82 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:57.360 But he had a big fifty yard run earlier in 83 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:00.240 the game that set up York's first touchdown, and then 84 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:02.199 a really big play late in the game. They were 85 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:04.719 leading by I believe they were leading. Let's see, they 86 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:07.080 were leading at the time by one one. I believe 87 00:04:07.080 --> 00:04:10.680 it was fourteen to thirteen. They had believe it was 88 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:12.840 a fourth and fourth and long or third and long. 89 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:16.360 He made a play. He threw off one foot off balance, 90 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:19.800 under pressure, just a dime thirty yards in the air 91 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:22.839 to Simon Kadowski, had set up a touchdown for Jimmy 92 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:27.240 Connors and again sends York to State. And again Bruno Massel. 93 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:30.439 I mean, like we said before, he's a state state 94 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:34.560 caliber sprinter, great running quarterback, but he can make plays 95 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:36.879 through the air too, and and and he showed it, 96 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:39.759 and he sends York to State. And man, what a 97 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:42.720 story for that York program. I mean, they tweeted it 98 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:47.240 out Saturday night when those freshmen when they first started 99 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:50.519 at York High School, York cannot bend to the playoffs 100 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:53.639 in ten years. Their last game is going to be 101 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:56.959 in a Class eight A state championship game. Pretty good stuff. 102 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:01.120 Yeah, it's really been a great turnaround for York. I mean, obviously, 103 00:05:01.319 --> 00:05:03.600 you know there's two losses earlier in the season to 104 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:05.519 down to show up Northern Lions. You know, we were 105 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:07.839 kind of like, you know, kind of questioning, you know, 106 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:11.240 how they would be able to perform in the playoffs, 107 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:13.560 and they have just emerged as you know, one of 108 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:17.439 the top offenses it depenses for that matter, you know, 109 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:20.000 throughout the entire playoffs, and they showed it once again 110 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:23.560 against a top Naperville Central team. So huge credit to 111 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:25.920 York on that on making it to the state title game. 112 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:28.839 Yeah. Fun finish there, and fun and finish at lincoln 113 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:30.800 Way Central the game that you were at, and man, 114 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:33.319 that that was a game that it seemed like found 115 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:35.639 on Twitter. There was a few times like I was thinking, okay, 116 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:37.720 I was like, okay, well that's probably the game right there, 117 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:41.319 including when lincoln Way Central scored late in the game. 118 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:45.079 But again Michael vander lewid Gharn the sophomore and Isaiah 119 00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:48.079 Brown the receiver. Wow, what a game and what a 120 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:49.000 finish for those two. 121 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:52.160 Yeah, I mean it was. It was so funny because 122 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:54.399 I mean, you know, throughout the first half, you know, 123 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:57.519 it was a relatively close contest, but lincoln Way Central 124 00:05:57.639 --> 00:05:59.839 you know, got the lead kind of early and they 125 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:04.519 out with it, and third quarter there was nothing that happened. 126 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:08.360 As soon as nothing happened in the third quarter, I'm like, oh, 127 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:10.759 this fourth quarter is gonna be fun. And that's exactly 128 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:13.240 what happened. I mean it was a It was basically 129 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:16.000 like a pendulum for that entire fourth court for the 130 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:19.600 final like half of that fourth quarter. I mean, you know, 131 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:23.000 the Tavia got the lead, I believe it was eighteen 132 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:26.959 fourteen at the time with five minutes left, Then Linking 133 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:30.199 Wayne Central got the lead once again, made it twenty 134 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:33.160 one to eighteen, and then Michael vander Lutgeren, you know, 135 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:38.399 helped Batavia eighty two yards down the field and with 136 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:42.279 thirty seconds left found Isaiah Brown indi en zone for 137 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:44.560 the go ahead touchdown, giving of the twenty five to 138 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:47.040 twenty month victory. But man, what a game it was 139 00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:51.000 for both sides. I mean, you know, especially considering how 140 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:55.920 rush dependent both of these teams had been heading into it, 141 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:58.639 it was more of a you know, contest of who 142 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:01.879 had the better air game. I mean, Drew Woodburn, who's 143 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:05.720 you know, usually been the one penny get all. He 144 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:08.720 ended up having one hundred and eighty yards through the 145 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:12.199 air for Lincoln Way Central, and a good majority of 146 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:15.000 it was finding Drew and junior wide receiver Drew in 147 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:17.519 Reason the entire time. I believe he had one hundred 148 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:20.000 and fifty reception yards in that game. But seemed like 149 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:23.199 every single play he had a Batavia defender just kind 150 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:26.240 of draped on him, but he still managed to get 151 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:29.160 a catch. And it was just it was crazy to 152 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:31.720 see down that side. But it was even crazier to see, 153 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:35.160 you know, Batavia having success through the success through the 154 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:38.680 air once again. I mean, it was just a crazy game. 155 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:40.199 I could go on about it forever. 156 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.519 Well, the passing game is something that at the beginning 157 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:46.160 of the year with Batavia, I you know, it was 158 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.240 it was a reason that gave me pause if they 159 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:50.560 were able to have the team that can make a 160 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:52.680 run like this, because you know, I remember I covered 161 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:54.920 the first game of the year against Gwen bard West, 162 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:57.759 the game that you know, Nathan Whitbar thirty five carries in, 163 00:07:57.959 --> 00:07:59.680 which was a great game for him. But you're kind 164 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:02.079 of one, you know, is that really going to be 165 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:04.759 sustainable in these deep playoff runs, because eventually they're gonna 166 00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:06.800 need to make plays through the air, And I just 167 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:09.759 wondered if eventually they were going to have a team 168 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:12.360 cable of that that. But they found it late in 169 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:15.240 the year with with the sophomore Michael Vanner Lewick Garon 170 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:19.120 coming up and rotating with body Anderson and Michael vaner Lewickkeren. 171 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:23.000 I mean he is he is not h He's become 172 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:25.079 a legend in the wrong way for the lincoln Way 173 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:27.920 School district because two weeks ago he did it lincoln 174 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:30.279 Way West and this year and this week he does 175 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:32.600 the Linkway Central with the Lake comebacks. 176 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:34.919 Yeah. Yeah. I asked him about that, like, this is 177 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:37.080 your second week in a row where you've played, you know, 178 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:39.559 game winning drive against the Lincoln Way School. I mean, 179 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:42.200 you know, what's what's kind of happened with that? And 180 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:44.080 he just told me, he was like, I I just 181 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:47.879 remember looking at body Anderson and Sid. I just be like, man, 182 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:49.840 this is fun. I like when this happens. 183 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:53.799 So yeah, the ignorance of youth. He doesn't know any better. 184 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:56.080 He's like, this is just fun. This is just fun. Yeah, 185 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:58.679 it's it's fun. It's a semifinals game on the line. 186 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:02.799 But great job by him, great job for Batavia. They're 187 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:06.080 going back to Stay with a throwing win, so you know, 188 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:08.320 hats off to them. They're going to be joined by 189 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:12.159 another Ducane Conference team, you know, one of the big wins, 190 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:14.240 and if you want to call it a surprise, you 191 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:18.519 can then knocking off carry Grove twenty eight to twenty six. 192 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:22.279 And boy, you know, last week I read a story 193 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:25.879 that Boonethorgenson talked about playing complimentary football. It's something they've 194 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:28.480 talked about all year, and darn if they didn't do 195 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:32.440 that last week, because I mean, Tony Jahino continued his 196 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:35.840 monster year. He threw for three hundred and eighty eight yards. 197 00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:38.559 He's now thrown for I believe forty six touchdowns on 198 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:41.759 the year. Talent Taylor, I think he had eleven catches 199 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:44.919 and a couple of touchdowns. But they did things they 200 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:47.440 everybody got in on it. They had a huge two 201 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:50.600 point conversion stop late in the game that was able 202 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:53.159 to keep their two point lead, and then they recovered 203 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:55.159 another on site kick. I mean, how many on site 204 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:57.399 kicks so they can recover and I think that's the 205 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:01.840 fourth one in the last two weeks. 206 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:03.399 Three weeks. I mean, yeah, but no, it was just 207 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:06.320 an It was just an amazing game and pretty much 208 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:08.480 a lot of things went right for Geneva to have 209 00:10:08.600 --> 00:10:11.279 that happen. You mentioned the two point conversion that they stopped, 210 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:14.240 that you know, led to them stopping the tie or 211 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:17.279 stopping the tie, But I think the even bigger play 212 00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:21.759 was near the end of the first half, I believe, 213 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:24.399 was it the first half. I think it was. It 214 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:27.320 was in the first half. They actually are Geneva's offense 215 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:32.360 actually stopped Terry grow from reaching the end zone in 216 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:35.200 a goal line stand. I mean, there were three consecutive 217 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:38.759 plays that were within Geneva's five yard line and they 218 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:40.480 kept them out of the end zone there. They kept 219 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:42.519 the triple option out of the end zone, and it 220 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:45.440 was just you know, it was a very impressive stop 221 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:48.639 and the defense showed up when they needed to. And yeah, 222 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:51.360 I mean you mentioned it. Tony Chachino, you know, did 223 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:53.679 super well in the game once again, three hundred and 224 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:56.679 eighty eight passing yards. Talon Taylor once again, I believe 225 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.799 he had one hundred and ninety five or section in 226 00:10:58.919 --> 00:11:02.960 yards and he even had to one hit catches in 227 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:05.600 the game. One of them, you know, on the sideline. 228 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:08.440 He just basically reached out and grabbed it out of 229 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:10.440 the air. It was probably one of the most impressive 230 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:13.879 catches I've ever seen. But yeah, I know a lot 231 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:16.440 of things went right for Geneva in that game in 232 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:19.399 order to reach the state final for the first time 233 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:22.480 since two thousand and eight. I mean a lot of 234 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:26.480 the players that are on this team weren't even past 235 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:29.759 three years old at this point. So a really impressive 236 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:33.879 win for Geneva against a really talented Perry Grove team. 237 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:36.320 Yeah, I think Tony Kaino was three years old because 238 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:38.480 Alex Kentucky are righter and his lead of the story 239 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:41.120 he talked about that Tony Chahino says he was there 240 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:43.440 and from that two thousand and eight game, and he's 241 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:45.200 got the pictures to prove it from when he was, 242 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:47.039 you know, three years old or whatever at the time, 243 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:49.679 and obviously a big one leading them back. But you 244 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:52.879 mentioned Talent Taylor. You know, these teams played last year 245 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:55.480 in the playoffs. Kerry Grove beat them rather handily. I 246 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:58.440 think it was forty one to seven. Talent Taylor did 247 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:00.600 play in that game, but he was coming back from 248 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:04.039 that that injury that he'd suffered, the leg injury has 249 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:06.600 suffered against Batavia. I don't think he was one hundred 250 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:09.200 percent for that game, but he still played. And you know, 251 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:11.320 he talked about in the story that that game really 252 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:14.000 you know, kind of really has sat with him for 253 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.960 for obviously a year, and and obviously he comes out 254 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:19.480 and he plays the way that he's capable of one 255 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:21.799 of the best players in the state. Huge game for him. 256 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:24.559 Another one too that I noticed. You know, we talked 257 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:27.120 about Michael vander Lui Garran for Batavia coming up. I 258 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:29.360 don't have you noticed. There was a sophomore for Geneva, 259 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:33.159 Nelson Wendell uh Heason call up from the JV team. 260 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:36.360 He had a sack, he had a funnel recovery, and 261 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:38.360 he or no, he had a stack and interception and 262 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:42.440 he also recovered the the on site kicks. So interesting 263 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:46.279 that for both Batavia and Geneva, really big time plays 264 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.320 for guys that were not on the varsity team for 265 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:49.080 a good part of the year. 266 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:52.039 Yeah, it's crazy to think that. It's like for some 267 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:53.879 of these kids, they were playing in the tav At 268 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:56.559 Geneva game, but they were playing in the sophomore game beforehand, 269 00:12:57.080 --> 00:13:00.320 and now they're making big plays for both of these team. 270 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:00.759 Yeah. 271 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:04.240 No, it was really impressive showing and actually a funny story. 272 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:07.399 I did end up seeing this on a live stream. 273 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:11.200 For the on side kick, it wasn't Jade Hodgten who 274 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:14.440 actually kicked the ball. It was sophomore Bennett Conky who 275 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:18.759 kicked the ball and Nelson Wendell came up and you know, 276 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:21.840 secured the on side kick after bombs off of a 277 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:25.600 Kerry Grove defender. But I mean, huge, huge game for 278 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:28.279 the sophomores overall for the Duk Conference. 279 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:30.440 Do any of the kicking. 280 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:34.919 I believe it was just for that onside kick. I 281 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:38.120 know he I know he did kick an extra point 282 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:41.120 earlier in the year after. I believe it was one 283 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:43.919 of those games where they were calling all players a 284 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.519 whole lot for you know, the shin guards or like 285 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:48.840 the knee pads being in the wrong position. They did 286 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:50.960 that with their kicker at one point they're like, what 287 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:53.600 do we do? Send Bennet Khaki and then he take 288 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:56.679 the field or the extra point. So he has done 289 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:59.240 kicking for them before. But I don't think for an 290 00:13:59.279 --> 00:13:59.879 onside kick. 291 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:03.320 Great great deal, great great excitement for Geneva. It's gonna 292 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:05.360 be fun next Senteray with Geneva and Batavia playing at 293 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:07.279 back to back games, and we'll talk about, you know 294 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:09.639 a little bit later in the podcast. But game that 295 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:12.559 I was on I was at on Saturday Nazareth playing 296 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:16.039 Saint Francis, a rematch of a week nine Saint Francis 297 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:19.320 win also a rematch of last year's semifinal that Nazareth won. 298 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:22.279 And Nazareth, I mean, you know, I was talking to 299 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:24.320 another writer before the game and I said, you know, 300 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:27.240 at St. Francis, they've had a great season. They have 301 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.600 been nas in Week nine. But Nazareth has six seniors 302 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:35.120 that played for the state championship team two years ago 303 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:38.559 as sophomores as starters. And they also have their quarterback 304 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:42.440 Logan Malchick and their best defensive player, Gab Kamencie. They 305 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:45.480 started as freshmen for a quarterfinal team. You know, long 306 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:48.000 story short, I was saying, not to take any away 307 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:51.200 from Nasare or Saint Francis. I just don't see Nazareth 308 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:55.480 losing their last home playoff game. Hey, football fans, listen 309 00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:58.559 up on top there and I drive a Hawk. I 310 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:01.720 got it from my friends Hawk Folkswagon. So drive what 311 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.279 I drive. 312 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:06.480 Drive a Hawk off Volkswagon on Jefferson Street in Joliet. 313 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:08.879 Or online at HAWKVW dot com. 314 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:12.559 Be the hass clothing brand based right here in Chicago, 315 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:15.480 Land that specializes in custom apparel. So if you need 316 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:18.240 your logo on team apparel, hoss Co is the place 317 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:21.600 to go. Visit Bethehass dot com and use code Friday 318 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:25.000 Night for twenty percent off your order. They have it all. 319 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:28.600 Hi, I'm State Representative Steve Reich, and I'm here to 320 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:32.559 wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving. Let's make it a happy 321 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:35.919 Thanksgiving for our neighbors as well. My office is conducting 322 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:40.000 a food drive for local food pantries here in McHenry 323 00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:43.360 County at ten seventy two Lake Avenue. If you're out 324 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:47.000 and about, drop some non perishable food items off at 325 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:47.919 my office. 326 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:49.039 And we'll see that they get delivered. 327 00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.440 Every dollar helps. 328 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:52.399 Let's make happy Thanksgiving for. 329 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:58.639 You know, with with that kind of experience, and sure enough, 330 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:01.200 that experience really boards Solf out. Nazareth was able to 331 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:03.120 jump out to a quick fourteen en up in lead. 332 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:06.519 Logan Malchick hit a couple you know, deep strikes to 333 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:08.159 get off to a really good lead and it really 334 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:11.080 kind of set the tone for the game and Nazareth's 335 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:14.080 defense that I mean it gave up thirty nine points 336 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:16.480 to Saint Francis. You know, they got hit for over 337 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:19.879 fifty points against Mount Carmel. Their defense was really good. 338 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:23.879 They just they just made things very uncomfortable for Saint Francis. 339 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:27.480 Saint Francis was really never to get able to get 340 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:30.480 in sync in that game. You know, Brady Palmer just 341 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:33.159 kind of struggled. They tried a couple of trick plays 342 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:36.360 where they did like a reverse throwback deep pass and 343 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:38.600 and Nazareth was all over it. They were ready, they 344 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:41.279 were disciplined, They're able to get an incomplete pass the 345 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:43.000 first time, and then they were able to get it 346 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:45.440 again on a fourth and goal at the end of 347 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:48.679 the first half. And then you know, the other big 348 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:51.159 part of the game is Saint franc Is actually opened 349 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:53.919 the second half with a kickoff return for a touchdown 350 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:56.720 for Zach Washington. But then Nazareth comes right back with 351 00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:59.399 their own kickoff return for a touchdown. That's another thing 352 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:02.559 that I've never seen before is back to back kickoff returns. 353 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:06.319 Edward McClain for Nazareth gets it, but you know, Nazareth 354 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:08.160 never looked back. And now they're going back to stay 355 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:10.359 for the third year in a row. And on the 356 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:14.079 other side, I'm gonna be honest, Saint Francis was pretty disappointed, 357 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:16.720 not only in that they lost, but in how they played. 358 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:19.480 I think they felt that they were a better team 359 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:22.440 than they showed. The final score was forty to twenty one, 360 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:26.640 and Nazareth really controlled that game. And I think that 361 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:29.319 loss really did not sit well on the San Francis side, 362 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:30.880 just the way they came out and played. 363 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:33.880 Yeah, I mean we talked about it in the podcast 364 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:36.160 last week. We talked about how each of the last 365 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:39.440 three contests were really close between these two programs and 366 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:42.160 how we expected it to be close again and for 367 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:46.960 Nazareth to come out and basically just dominate the game throughout. 368 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:51.359 I obviously it is a tough loss for Saint Francis 369 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:55.839 they fall in the semifinals to Nazareth again, but I 370 00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:58.680 mean it was just a dominant showing from Nazareth all throughout, 371 00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:03.519 and they're looking they're looking pretty keen to winning another 372 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:04.359 state title. 373 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:06.480 No doubt. I Mean, they lost a week Week nine 374 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.839 of Saint Francis, but ever since the playoffs has started, 375 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:11.359 they've just been they have They've rolled, They've rolled through 376 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:13.400 the first four opponents. They've been very impressive, and they 377 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:15.519 look like a team that wants to win a third 378 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:18.799 straight state championship. So we'll see what happens with that. 379 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:22.839 You know, last semifinal touchdown. Last week, UH, Montini with 380 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:26.000 a really good win over Wilmington. Final score was forty 381 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:29.440 two to twelve. You know, if Montini is going to 382 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:32.000 score forty points in a game, any team is gonna 383 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:34.680 be tough to beat, but especially with that defense. That 384 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:38.920 defense basically has everybody back from last year's semifinalists. But 385 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:41.960 their offense, We've talked about it before in the podcast. 386 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:44.960 Offense has really kind of turned the corner since about 387 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:48.200 week four or so. They went full time with a sophomore, 388 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:52.960 Israel Abraham or Israel Abrams full time quarterback as a sophomore. 389 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:55.000 He was rotating early a year, but he had a 390 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:57.640 big game. He threw for four touchdown passes. 391 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:57.920 UH. 392 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:01.880 Santano Florio was one, c J Harkins said, two others, 393 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:05.200 and then Jeremiah Peterson. He's a kid that was he 394 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:08.839 was Montini's middle linebacker last year. And they've had some 395 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:12.160 injuries at running back. He's taken over and and he 396 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:14.799 ran for one hundred and forty yards and just kind 397 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:18.160 of a dominant win for Montini and and UH first 398 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:21.200 time going back to stay since twenty eighteen. I'm not 399 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:23.680 surprised that they won and again, if they're gonna score 400 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:26.119 that kind of points, it's gonna be pretty difficult to 401 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:28.119