DePaul Prep Takes Fourth Place in 3A Volleyball State Finals

[Preview of my story this week in Inside—Booster.]

By Jack Lydon

The DePaul Prep Rams (37-5) fell to the Prairie Ridge Wolves (38-3) in the IHSA 3A State third-place game Saturday afternoon in Normal. The Wolves edged the Rams in two sets, 22-25 and 23-25. The fourth-place finish in the State Finals is still the farthest that any DePaul Prep or Gordon Tech team has achieved in volleyball.

Despite going back and forth the whole way, DePaul Prep could not get more than a one-point lead at any point. Although the Rams were more at ease than they were in the semi-final, it came down to Prairie Ridge’s excellent play handling the Rams’ hits.

“It was tough. We wanted to protect the serve so anytime we got the ball back we wanted to keep the serve on our side. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Playing at this level, you know it’s going to be competitive volleyball. We just didn’t make that change quick enough,” said DePaul Prep head coach Caroline Gajzler.

DePaul’s semi-final match against Mahomet-Seymour was not much different. The Rams were right with the Bulldogs but a five-point run midway through the first set lifted the Bulldogs to a 25-18 first set. The Rams rallied bringing back to two but Mahomet pulled away slowly as the first set continued. In the second set of Friday’s semi-final, the Rams cleaned up their service errors but just couldn’t put together a run to overtake the Bulldogs.

Of the semi-final loss, DePaul Prep head coach Caroline Gajzler said, “Ultimately, we fell short in playing the game that we’ve been playing. A few back-to-back hitting errors here and there. Some missed connections with our setters.

“[Mahomet-Seymour, eventual 3A state champion] was definitely one of the most competitive teams that we have played this season. They played very clean tonight. They ran down most of the balls, most of the touches.”

The fourth-place finish was a little bittersweet for the DePaul Prep. The Rams definitely believed they could win. The bar is high at DePaul Prep. In just the past few years, the Rams have back-to-back state championships in boys’ basketball, a state championship and a second-place finish in boys and girls cross-country respectively and fourth place finish in baseball.

“Gratitude. Grateful. An honor to be these girls’ coach. The school has only been in existence for ten years and it goes back to Gordon Tech. To be a part of history, I am really blessed. I love these girls not only as athletes but as human beings. I am grateful to be part of their story. I can’t wait to see what the rest has for them. I am just really grateful to have the experience of being here,” Coach Gajzler said.

The 37-5 season for the Rams was the culmination for a four-year process for the team and the coaches.

“It feels surreal. Ever since we got here freshman year, it was always something that seemed so far our of reach. But this year and last year, it was finally attainable. And the fact that we got this far and beat a lot of teams that we worked really hard to beat to get here. All that really paid off,” said senior hitter Amira Boone.

“Our senior class said this is our year, this is our season. All of our programs are excelling. What we all worked for for four years is all coming together,” said senior Layla Christian.

“We called this our unicorn season. Taking eighteen on a roster we knew it was going to be something special. We just talked about it in the locker room. Being GCAC White champions, two-time tournament champions, regional champions, sectional champions, super-sectional champions, first time coming downstate, so the entire season has kind of been this high. Hard work paying off, these girls trusting the process, believing the coaching staff, and really stepping up their game and growing throughout four years. It’s really neat to be a part of that process.

“Everyone wanted it so bad. I am so proud of this team and how far we have come,” said senior Katie Syftestad.

DePaul Prep Falls to Mahomet-Seymour in 3A Semi; Will Play Prairie Ridge in Third-place Game

The DePaul Prep Rams (37-4) fell to the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs (38-3) in the IHSA 3A State semi-final Friday afternoon in Normal. The Bulldogs edged the Rams in two sets, 18-25 and 22-25.

The match was close but Mahomet played a largely error free first set fielding everything that the Ram threw at them. It was hard for the Rams to replicate the energy of the Super-sectional match against rival St. Laurence.  

Very tight beginning to the match. Mahomet-Seymor went on a five-point run midway through the first set. Rams rallied bringing back to two but Mahomet pulled away slowly as the first set continued. There was also an uncharacteristically high service errors by the Rams.

The second set was close the whole way. The Rams cleaned up the errors but just couldn’t put together a run to overtake the Bulldogs.

“Ultimately, we fell short in playing the game that we’ve been playing. A few back-to-back hitting errors here and there. Some missed connections with our setters. At the end of the day, just blessed to be here, happy to be here. Ready to come back tomorrow and hopefully win third place,” said DePaul Prep head coach Caroline Gajzler.

“[Mahomet-Seymour] was definitely one of the most competitive teams that we have played this season. They played very clean tonight. They ran down most of the balls, most of the touches. Definitely in the top three of the most competitive teams that we have played.”

“They kept a lot of confidence throughout the game. They didn’t seem jittery or nervous. That confidence ultimately helped them in the end. We were playing a very even game but the confidence and the energy were very different,” said Rams’ senior hitter Amira Boone.

The Rams move on to play Prairie Ridge Wolves (27-14) in the 3A third-place game. The Rams and Wolves had three common opponents this season: Fenwick, Rosary and Jacobs. Both teams beat the common opponents.

“It’s obviously our goal is to be in the first and second place match. Now that we are in the third-place match, I feel like we are ready. So I think we will come in tomorrow and continue making history,” said Layla Christian.

“I agree with that. After the loss today, we will be more aggressive tomorrow. Keep building off what we did today,” said sophomore Kalia Kroth.

“Even though we did not get a chance to win the championship, third place at state is so very impressive. The fact that we even have an opportunity to compete for third is really exciting,” said senior hitter Amira Boone.

“We have built up to this our full high school careers. Which I think has been really big for us. We came in with a really big class and grew from freshman year and built up to this moment,” said Layla Christian.

The Rams have put together a truly historic season going farther in the playoff that any preceding team in school history. In her fourth season as head coach, Caroline Gajzler has built a team into a “program.” She looks to replicate the way that the boys’ basketball coach Tom Kleinshmidt followed a third-place finish with two state championships.  

DePaul Prep Volleyball Going to State; Defeats St. Laurence

DePaul Prep girls’ volleyball team defeated St. Laurence in three sets, 21-25, 25-15, 25-21, in tonight’s IHSA 3A Super-sectional at Hinsdale South high school. Rams advance to the state championship tournament Friday and Saturday at the CEFCU Arena, (formerly known as Redbird Arena), in Normal.

The Rams improve their remarkable record to 37-3 and avenge their October 3rd loss at the hands of St. Laurence. St. Laurence may be the best team that DePaul Prep has faced this season. Hinsdale South was full of loud Ram and Viking fans. Easily the most exciting volleyball match that I have attended.

The Rams dropped the first set after falling behind early. They fought but could not get all the way back and dropped the first set 21-25. They don’t get down. They believe in themselves. They showed it after falling behind in the first set in the St. Ignatius match and then battling back to win.

In the second set, the Rams grabbed and early lead and built on it in typical fashion ultimately winning 25-15.

The third set was very stressful. Back and forth. After being tied at 16, the Rams built a small lead and took the match 25-21 in the third set.

Still another state tournament for DePaul Prep.

The Rams will face the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs (37-3) on Friday at 4:00 p.m., in the 3A semi-final. The Rams and Bulldogs had no common opponents this year. The Bulldogs lost to Champaign Central (3A) and Normal West (4A) in September and Effingham (3A) on October 17th. Mahomet-Seymour high school is located in Mahomet, Illinois, which is about 12 miles northwest of Champaign.

The other 3A semi-final will feature Prairie Ridge from Crystal Lake and Limestone from Bartonville.

DePaul Prep Dominates Geneseo 38-13 in 3A Playoff

By Jack Lydon

The DePaul Prep Rams dominated the Geneseo Maple Leafs 38-13 Saturday afternoon in the IHSA 3A second round playoff game. The Rams’ offense scored on all five of their first half possession with four touchdowns and a field goal.

No one knew what to expect in this game. Geneseo (6-5), a team from western Illinois by the Quad Cities, in the Western Big 6 Conference runs an old school double wing “three yards and a cloud of dust” type offense that offense that gives teams trouble who don’t regularly see it. The double wing expects to run the ball and control the clock. Geneseo did neither.

After the Rams took the opening kick off down the field for an early score, a three-yard touchdown run by Rams’ senior running back Nick Martinez, Geneseo answered. On a classic quarterback option, Maple Leafs’ junior tail back Kye Weinzert took the pitch and raced up the Rams’ sideline 75 yards to Rams 12 yard-line. On the next play, Geneseo junior quarterback Braxton McAvoy threw for a 12-yard touchdown on a pass to the middle of the endzone. Not exactly three yards and a cloud of dust.

But Fernando “Juju” Rodriguez and the powerful Rams offense were too much for Geneseo. The one-two punch of Juju’s passing and the gashing runs of Nick Martinez had the Rams scoring every time they had the ball in the first half: four touchdowns and a field goal. A double-wing offense simply can’t overcome that.

It wasn’t just the conservative offense that doomed Geneseo. The Rams’ defense had something to do with it. The Rams forced six turnovers and allowed probably not that many first downs. The Rams recovered four Geneseo fumbles and intercepted two passes.

It was the Rams that ran the ball. Senior running back Nick Martinez returned to the Rams backfield after aggravating a hamstring injury in the final regular season game against Benet and sitting out the first playoff game against Dyett.

“We held [Nick Martinez] out last week on purpose. We wanted him to get healthy. He felt good all week long. He was back. With him and Juju [Rodriguez] in that backfield, they get it humming,” said DePaul Prep head coach Mike Passarella.

They did indeed. Martinez’s runs kept Geneseo off balance and opened up the passing lanes for Rodriguez who threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.

“Missing a few games really affected me. I still had to stay disciplined to make sure I had a good recovery. My plan was to come back for this game and dominate,” said Martinez.

The Rams will face St. Laurence (7-3) in the 4A quarterfinal game at DePaul Prep Stadium next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. St. Laurence defeated Wheaten Academy (9-1) in something of an upset with the Vikings being the 12th seed defeating the #4 seed, Wheaton Academy 26-14.

St. Laurence is out of the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic League White Division. The White Division is stacked with two other top teams Fenwick and Montini. Fenwick upset Brother Rice last week but lost to Downers Grove North in a close game 13-10. Montini, a 3A team, defeated #1 seed Byron and is a favorite to win 3A.

St. Laurence and DePaul Prep did not play this year. Their common opponents included only St. Patrick and Carmel. Both St. Laurence and DePaul Prep won those games.

It's had to say who will be a favorite in the DePaul Prep v. St. Laurence game. The Rams come in with the higher #9 seed to the Vikings #16 seed. But that doesn’t much matter as it does not take strength of schedule into account. The CCL/ESCC White would be considered a higher division in the conference but not by much. But the Rams are 4-1 at home this year losing only to Loyola at home.

DePaul Prep Defeats St. Ignatius to Win 3A Sectional

It didn’t look good for the Rams midway through the first set when they were down 18-12. Then, slowly at first, they cut the margin to 22-17. Then the Rams charged back outscoring the Wolfpack 7-1, taking the first set 25-23.

The second set saw the more typical Rams play—steady building a lead. They took the Wolfpack 25-16 in the second set and the match. A 3A Sectional final match and advance to the Super-sectional on Monday. One game away from the State Tournament.

The Wolfpack are an excellent volleyball team. Every bit the equal of the Rams. Ignatius returned most of their team from last’s 3A third-place finishers. It was the Wolfpack that ended the Rams’ season last year in the Sectional semi-final. The Rams have been working toward this win all year. Even so, the Wolfpack seemed a little shellshocked by the Rams’ first set comeback.

The did not get down; they came back and won. This just might be the Rams’ year. The Rams have a remarkable 36-3 record this year. But one the three losses came at St. Laurence on October 3rd in three sets.

St. Laurence is next. The Super-sectional is Monday evening at Hinsdale South high school. With the St. Ignatius defeat avenged, there is another defeat to take care of on Monday.

As for the photos, I went a little crazy. I shot 2987 photos. I picked out 109 to process. I ended up only working up 40. I wanted to get as many as I could knowing this would be a historic game between two of the top teams in the state.

The light is always challenging in the Gentile Gym. Very yellow non-LED lights. I spoke to St. Ignatius AD Mike Hurley about it. I told him that he could not be outdone by DePaul Prep AD Pat Mahoney who just bought new LED lights for the Tom Winiecki Gym which will be installed before the basketball season. Hurley smiled and said nothing about getting new lights. My personal crusade to improve the lights in Catholic Leagues gyms still has a way to go.

I hope you like the photos.

DePaul Prep Wins Playoff Game 48-8 over Dyett

[A preview of my story in Inside—Booster.]

By Jack Lydon

The DePaul Prep Rams (7-3) defeated the Dyett Eagles 48-8 Saturday afternoon at Stagg Stadium on the South side. The Rams had a 42-0 halftime lead on the Eagles so there was a running clock in the second half.

The Rams defense opened the game with an impressive start that set the tone for the rest of the game. Dyett had -17 years of total offense on the first two drives. The Rams offense answered with two quick touchdowns making the score 14-0 before Dyett had a first down.

Even with the two quick touchdowns, the Rams’ offense was not hitting on its usual strength the passing game and the passing and scrambling talent of senior quarterback Fernando “Juju” Rodriguez.

“I would say I was just antsy,” Rodriguez admitted after the game.

“I saw [Juju] after the second drive I grabbed him. I said dude, ‘you’ve gotta calm down.’ He was late. They ran a little bit of a different defense than what we say on films. So that was new and he was probably just trying to work through some adjustments,” said Rams’ head coach Mike Passarella.

Not that this was a big deal. They lead 14-0. And the defense was playing at a level they have not been at in weeks. A few incomplete passes is hardly a huge problem or even something unusual.  

The second quarter was a whole different story. Rodriguez calmed down. He scrambled around, avoiding tackles and making big throws. The Rams put up four touchdowns and extra points in the second quarter and took a 42-0 at the half.

While the final score of 48-8 might suggest that the Rams would be a heavy favorite coming into the game, which they were, the peculiarities of the IHSA seeding system had the Eagles as a #8 seed and the Rams as a #9 seed making Dyett the home team. The seeding system doesn’t take into account strength of schedule.

For instance, Sullivan High School finished the season 9-0 in the Chicago Public League’s White-North Division and earned a #1 seed in one side of the 4A bracket. However, Sullivan played only other CPL teams and no team from the CPL’s top division, the Red Division. Sullivan lost 42-0 Saturday at Winnemac Stadium to Geneseo, a rural school from Western Illinois just outside of the Quad Cities.

Geneseo, now 6-4, will be the Rams’ next opponent next Saturday as the 4A playoffs continue. This time the Rams’ will be a home team in playoff game for the first time in decades. Geneseo will once again have to travel across the state to Chicago for a playoff game. This game will prove a good deal more competitive for both squads.

The Geneseo Green Machine comes out of the Western Big 6 Conference, which has seven teams, where they finished in fifth place with a 5-4 record. Don’t be fooled by that. There are very good teams in that conference, including Quincy and Moline, both playoff 7A teams.

Geneseo employs a double wing offense that is difficult for teams to stop. The offense is something of an old-school run-heavy offense that controls the ball in three yards and a cloud of dust fashion. Old school or not, this offense can be very effective. Lane Tech head coach Dedrick Dewalt proved that a couple years ago when he dialed it up for Champions who won six straight with it and made the playoffs. The Rams coaching staff will have to be coaching up their players on how to stop the double wing.

Even more disconcerting about Geneseo has to be their uniforms. The Green Machine’s uniforms are basically the same as the Green Bay Packers. The mere sight of those yellow and green helmets are bound bring out a mix of hatred, anger and dread amongst the Rams players, coaches and fans.

DePaul Prep Defeats Lake View to Win 3A Volleyball Regional

The DePaul Prep girls volleyball team defeated Lake View in straight sets to will the 3A DePaul Prep Regional. The Rams move on to play Payton College Prep on Tuesday at St. Ignatius.

I took these shots from higher up than Tuesday’s photos and from the South side of the gym. The shots form higher up seem a little better to me. The shots form the North side of the gym seem just as good as the ones from the South side.

So from this little volleyball photography experiment I have been doing over the past few volleyball matches, it seems that a variety of shots from above and below, from on the edge of the court, from across from the bench and from behind the bench all produce usable interesting photos.

And as for the Rams, wow are they a good volleyball team. I have photographed the Rams for about three seasons now. This is the best volleyball team that I have seen. What is so remarkable is how many outstanding players are on the team. All of them are excellent players. There doesn’t seem to be a starting group. Maybe that is because head coach Caroline Gjazler has the luxury of starting so many different players who play and a very high level.

One could split this team and two, put each of the squads in opposite brackets and they could meet each in the title game. I only exaggerate a little.

But St. Ignatius lies ahead. Focus.

DePaul Prep Defeats ITW Speer in Regional Semi-final

Frankly, it wasn’t close. Speer had seven players and were no match of this season’s DePaul Prep Rams girls volleyball squad with eighteen players who can all play well.

I kind of knew it would be this way so I thought I would concentrate on getting shots from above. They turned out pretty well. I had to push the ISO higher than I like to get the exposure I wanted.

The shots from above are okay. They work well from kill shots. I have to hand it to Shae Griffith for inspiring me to get these shots. I took them from the North side of the Tom Winiecki Gym so I could get the players’ faces.

The exposure of the photos is darker than I usually do. I am going to leave them and see how I like the darker shots in a few days or a week.

All the photos were taken from the same place. I don’t usually do that. I think the spot was good but I feel like I want to try a little higher up.

I was sitting among the volleyball parents so I hope I was not causing too much distraction from the match. But hey, it’s all about getting the shot, right?

Amundsen Beats Lane 14-7

Amundsen’s talented senior quarterback Elmir Gjeka reported on Twitter that Amundsen’s 14-7 win over Lane Tech was the first time since 1973, 51 years, that Amundsen defeated Lane Tech. That’s a long time.

The Vikings have been focused on beating Lane every since the disappointing on point loss last year. They had it dialed on Friday afternoon. Running, passing, defense.

This is and excerpt from my story in this week’s Inside—Booster:

The Amundsen Vikings (5-4) defeated the Lane Tech Champions (3-6) on Friday afternoon 14-7, earning themselves a playoff berth. It was the first time the Vikings defeated in the ten years that Amundsen head coach Nick Olson has been coaching the Vikings.

The Vikings lead the Champions 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and added another after a long drive late in the second quarter taking a 14-0 lead into the halftime break. Amundsen burned six minutes off the clock after intercepting Lane’s replacement quarterback on the first drive of the second half.

Lane’s usual starting quarterback Noah Mayra reentered the game halfway through the third quarter. Moving the Champions steadily down the field, Mayra rifled an eighteen-yard touchdown pass to fellow senior wide receiver Julian Vickery to get Lane back in the game 14-7.

The Vikings run game and defense proved too much for the Champions to overcome. Reggie Mitchell ran the ball for first downs and the defense intercepted Mayra midway through the fourth and recovered a Champions’ fumble with 1:13 on the clock lock up the victory and a playoff berth.

Vikings’ head coach Nick Olson was a bit emotional after the game. “We are graduating 15 seniors, this is a special group for me,” he said.  

The toughest playoff draw has to go to Amundsen. The Vikings will play Geneva (8-1) from the DuKane Conference, who are currently ranked #5 in Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 rankings of area schools.

“This will be the best team we have played all season. We are well aware of that. Once you get in the playoffs, everybody is good,” said Amundsen head coach Nick Olson.

“We are gonna just try and do what we have been doing all year and that’s trying to run the ball, stay ahead of the chains and keep the ball away from their offense.”

Lincoln Park Survives Payton; DePaul Prep Falls to Benet; Amundsen Drops Lane Tech

[Preview of my article in this weeks’ Inside—Booster]

By Jack Lydon

The high school football regular season is in the books. Lincoln Park finished 8-1 with one of the the best records on the Northside. With a 6-3 record, DePaul Prep had its best season in thirty years stretched back into the Gordon Tech era. Amundsen continues its winning ways in recent years with a 5-4 record. All three teams’ season will continue with games in the IHSA Playoffs.

The Lincoln Park Lions (8-1) survived a late charge Walter Payton College Prep (5-4) winning 14-7 Saturday afternoon at Winnemac Stadium earning a #8 seed in the 7A IHSA football playoffs.

Lincoln Park jumped out to 7-0 lead on Payton with 2:15 left in the first quarter but stalled after offensively after that. Payton’s offense was just as toothless through three quarters of the game. But with 8:19 remaining in the game, the Grizzlies faked a punt and connected on a 21-yard pass for a first down on Lincoln Park’s 25-yardline. With 2:58 remaining, Payton connected a fourth down touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7.

On the very next play, the Lions answered. Junior wide receiver and basketball player, Jayden Dickerson, in his first year ever playing football, took the kickoff for 72 yards to the Payton 8-yardline. The huge play, symbolic of the Lions’ Cinderella season, all but sealed the Lions victory. A few plays later, the Lions pushed the ball into the endzone for a 14-7 victory.

The Lions are the surprise team of the year. “I don’t think anybody expected us to do what we’ve been doing. I am pretty sure that if you took a poll before the season started, everybody would probably pick us to finish last, Lincoln Park head coach Andres Flores said.

Lincoln Park draws a playoff game against #8 seed Hoffman Estates Hawks (6-3) from the Mid-Suburban West conference. This is an interesting match-up for the Lions. A top team from CPS facing a fourth-place team from a good suburban conference. The Hawks’ losses this year came at the hands of Fremd, Palatine and Barrington—all ranked in the Super 25. The Lions will have their work cut out for them. But they will host the game, probably Saturday afternoon at Lane Stadium.

Lions head coach Andres Flores likes his underdog status. Before the brackets were announced, Flores said, “that suburban team is probably going to be licking their chops . . . We have been underestimated all year and our athletes have shown up all year. I know people are probably overlooking us despite the record. I think we will match up fine with whoever we get in the first round.”

On Friday evening, the 6-2 DePaul Prep Rams travelled to Lisle to face Benet Academy in the game that would decide the CCL/ESCC Purple Division. The Rams gave up five turnovers, two of which went for Benet touchdowns and came away short with a 31-24 loss.

“You can’t win football games when you have five turnovers,” said DePaul Prep head coach Mike Passarella. “And two of them went for scores.”

Despite the five turnovers, there is no quit in these Rams. The Rams tied the game at 17 each with 4:33 remaining in the game, only to give up an 80 touchdown on the very next play from scrimmage run by the Redwings.

The Redwings added another pick-six to push their lead to 31-17. No quit in the Rams. Fernando “Juju” Rodriguez connected on a 40-yard bomb to Justin Sterner to make the score 31-24. It wasn’t to be. The Rams came up short falling to 6-3 on year and losing their chance for Purple Division championship.

“We struggled today on a number of fronts. Miscues, penalties on the offensive side, big plays on the defensive side, You’ve got to take advantage of what’s given to you and we just didn’t do that tonight which is not like us,” said Passarella.

Even with the loss, the Rams are still in the playoffs. They earned the #9 seed in 4A and will play #8 Dyett Eagles (7-2), possibly next Friday at Gately Stadium. The Rams and the Eagles had no common opponents. The Eagles did not pay any ranked teams and their losses came against conference foes Corless and King.

The Amundsen Vikings (5-4) defeated the Lane Tech Champions (3-6) on Friday afternoon 14-7, earning themselves a playoff berth. It was the first time the Vikings defeated in the ten years that Amundsen head coach Nick Olson has been coaching the Vikings.

The Vikings lead the Champions 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and added another after a long drive late in the second quarter taking a 14-0 lead into the halftime break. Amundsen burned six minutes off the clock after intercepting Lane’s replacement quarterback on the first drive of the second half.

Lane’s usual starting quarterback Noah Mayra reentered the game halfway through the third quarter. Moving the Champions steadily down the field, Mayra rifled an eighteen-yard touchdown pass to fellow senior wide receiver Julian Vickery to get Lane back in the game 14-7.

The Vikings run game and defense proved too much for the Champions to overcome. Reggie Mitchell ran the ball for first downs and the defense intercepted Mayra midway through the fourth and recovered a Champions’ fumble with 1:13 on the clock lock up the victory and a playoff berth.

Vikings’ head coach Nick Olson was a bit emotional after the game. “We are graduating 15 seniors, this is a special group for me,” he said.  

The toughest playoff draw has to go to Amundsen. The Vikings will play Geneva (8-1) from the DuKane Conference, who are currently ranked #5 in Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 rankings of area schools.

“This will be the best team we have played all season. We are well aware of that. Once you get in the playoffs, everybody is good,” said Amundsen head coach Nick Olson.

“We are gonna just try and do what we have been doing all year and that’s trying to run the ball, stay ahead of the chains and keep the ball away from their offense.”

Amundsen’s Reggie Mitchell scores touchdown against Lane Tech.

DePaul Prep Wins GCAC Championship with Win over Resurrection

The DePaul Prep girls’ volleyball team defeated Resurrection in two sets at DePaul’s Tom Winiecki Gym and clinched the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference championship.

This is DePaul Prep’s first GCAC championship since 2014.

As for the photos, I have photographed a number of volleyball matches this season. I was looking for new places to shoot from. I don’t know if they worked or not. You be the judge.

DePaul Prep Comes Back to Defeat Carmel 25-22

Preview of this week’s Inside—Booster article:

By Jack Lydon

DePaul Prep just keeps winning. The Rams 25-23 come from behind win over Carmel Catholic on Friday lifts the Rams to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the CCL/ESCC Purple division. This is the best record in DePaul Prep football’s eleven seasons. The best record for 32 years reaching back into the Gordon Tech era when Tom Winiecki was the coach. In 1992, the Rams finished 10-1.

If you were in the DePaul Prep stadium Friday during the first half of the game, you wouldn’t have been thinking about that. The Carmel Corsairs (3-4) are extraordinarily talented. Their quarterback Trae Taylor is a high major division 1 college prospect. He is among the most gifted quarterbacks in the state even as a sophomore. Both their lines are huge and talented. Carmel won two games in the playoff last year. Frankly, the Rams were not the favorite and it showed in the first quarter.

The Corsairs moved right down the field with the opening kick. Sophomore running back Michael Pierre scored on a 33-yard run up the middle. Trae Taylor added a 3-yard touchdown run with 5:07 left in the half making the score 13-0. Maybe the Rams luck had run out.

“I was nervous. I will tell you that. I had a little anxiety going on,” DePaul Prep head coach Mike Passarella said of the early Carmel lead.

With time running down in the first half, it felt like the game might be slipping away. It was fourth down and one from the Rams own 29-yard line. The decision was made to go for it. A nineteen-yard gain later and a big first down, the Rams were looking to score.

“We are a slow starting team. It’s something we’ve got to work on. We know that we’ve got it in us,” said junior wide receiver Matthew Osterman after the game.

“We knew since Monday. We knew since the start of the season. Let’s keep working. Let’s keep going. The game’s not over. The clock has not hit double zeros. We just gotta keep going,” the confident Osterman added.

Rams’ senior quarterback and three-year starter Fernando “JuJu” Rodriguez connected with Rams wide receiver Justin Sterner on perfectly thrown post route right down the middle of the field for a 25-yard touchdown. The Rams were right back in it.

Carmel was not done in the half. They moved right down the field in the 44 seconds remaining and added a 42-yard field goal that hit the upright and fell throw to make the score at half time 16-7.

This group of Rams can play from behind.

“They are not 16-7 better than you,” Passarella told his team at half time. “You are shooting yourselves in the foot. You are making mistakes. Not communicating out there. Go out there and execute. We made zero adjustments. We just lined up and played football the way that we practiced all week long and knew we could.”

The second half was a different story. It felt like a boxing match. Each teams had their drives. The Rams senior wide receiver Bradon Peevy scored on a five-yard pass from Rodriguez midway through the third.

After a gutsy onside kicker recovered by the DePaul Prep, Rams’ sophomore kicker Emmett McCue added a 42-yard field goal of his own.

“I really tried to focus in, focus in on where I need the ball to go. I got it to where it needed to be,” McCue said. The Rams had a 17-16 lead with 5:59 left in the third.

Carmel’s run/pass offense was just too much. With 8:16 left in the game and the clock ticking down, the Corsairs and their talented quarterback and running back methodically moved the ball toward the south endzone. With 3:12 on the clock, Pierre darted ten yards up the middle to retake the lead 22-17.

 “We were both gassed on both sides of the ball. You saw what they did. They drove the ball right down on that last score. We were gassed. We weren’t getting off the ball,” said Passarella.

 With a big stop on the two-point conversion attempt, the Rams come off the field with a surprising confidence. We’ve got the ball and three minutes; no problem.

Rodriguez and his Rams took the field at the 20-yard line after a touchback. JuJu wasted no time is gashing the Corsairs with a couple fifteen-yard passes in the middle of the field. Then a couple determined runs by senior running back Nick Martinez as the clock continued to run.

“[Nick Martinez] is another three-year guy that we trust with the ball in his hands. He is going to make things happen and that’s what he does. He is patient. He lets his blocks develop. He hits the acceleration when he needs to. He makes things happen. He keeps drives alive,” said Passarella.

The dinks and dunks and the runs seemed to slow the Corsairs’ defense. With second and seven from the 20-yard line, JuJu dropped back to pass.

“It was actually a broken play. The cornerback . . . just left [Osterman] open, didn’t guard him. I tried getting it off as fast as I can, just throwing it out to him and letting him make a play. Honestly, I could not even tell you what the play call was. I just saw him. He saw me. So I snapped it and through it out to him and he scored,” said Rodriquez.

Rams’ junior wide receiver Matt Osterman made a great catch with an interfering defender draped all over him for the winning touchdown. His fifth touchdown of the season. This historic season.

Carmel wasn’t done. They put up a tremendous effort with under a minute on the clock but great defensive plays by the Rams would keep them out of field goal range and a chance to tie.

DePaul Prep basketball has become a top basketball program in the state with two state championships in a row. The boys’ cross-country team has a state championship. The girls’ volleyball team has become a top program in recent years. Why not football?

Several football observers I spoke to before the game thought that DePaul Prep would end up in 4A when the classes are officially announced after the season. 4A has a number of top teams in the state but not many. Rochester, IC Catholic and St. Lawrence were the ones that came to mind.

With the Rams officially in with six wins, it is not inconceivable that they could advance beyond an anticipated home game against an area school. An anticipated 8-1 or 7-2 record would likely bring a game against a downstate team or an area powerhouse team.

But the season is not over. It’s not the playoffs yet. St. Francis is next. Then Benet.

DePaul Prep Defeats St. Viator 39-23

The DePaul Prep Rams went out to Arlington Heights on Friday evening to face the St. Viator Lions, the mighty, mighty Lions, in a big CCL/ESCC Purple showdown. The Rams dispatched the St. Patrick Shamrocks a couple games ago. Friday was the second of the games against Purple opponents. Benet will the last regular season game.

I said to Coach Mike Passarella after the game, “Every game this year I say to you that this is the biggest game you have coached at DePaul Prep.”

He let out a big laugh. The joy in it was palpable. It’s only a slight exaggeration. This is certainly the best season the Rams have put together in nine years. Bill Jeske was the coach then and he lead the Rams into the playoffs with a 5-5 season and a playoff appearance against Elmwood/Brimfield.

The Rams played the Lions basically even for three quarters but dominated them in the fourth and came away with a 39-23 win in convincing fashion.

This year’s Rams are 5-1 with their only lost coming to 8A defending state champions Loyola Academy.

They plan to win. The prepare to win. They expect to win. The is no quit in these Rams. They don’t lose heart if they give up a big play or fall behind. They play four quarters.

This program has turned. They, their coaches and their fans are winners.

But now the games only get bigger. I will have a chance to repeat my question to Coach Passarella about being the biggest game of his tenure after the next game.

Carmel Catholic in Mundelein is next. When I was in high school at St. Viator, Carmel was not much of a threat. I don’t think we ever lost to them. These are not your father’s Corsairs. Although they lost last night to Montini, Carmel is good and the Rams will not be the favorite.

As it happens, it looks like I will be available to cover the game. The game is at DePaul Prep. Come see the biggest of the DePaul Prep era, until the next game.

Amundsen Falls to Simeon 30-14

[Preview of my article in Inside—Booster this week.]

By Jack Lydon

Amundsen had one slip away. A few big plays by Simeon early in the fourth quarter proved the difference. Amundsen dominated quarters one and three. Simeon dominated quarters two and four. The Simeon Wolverines (5-1) defeated the Amundsen Vikings (3-3) 30-14 on Thursday evening at Gately Stadium.

After the Vikings took the opening kickoff, on the first play from scrimmage, Vikings’ junior running back powered up the middle 56 yards for a touchdown. Simeon did not know what hit them.

The Vikings held Simeon after the Wolverines failed to connect on some deep passes. The Vikings took over on their 41-yard line. The Vikings went back to Reggie Mitchell. The junior again took the ball through the middle of Simeon’s defense. This time for 31 yards down to the Wolverines 23-yard line. Add in a few more runs and Mitchell had 102 yards in the first quarter. The first quarter was all Amundsen.

The second quarter went to the Wolverines. Senior quarterback Kaleb Sims scored on fourteen-yard keeper with 3:03 left to bring the Wolverines even 6-6 after the two point conversion attempt failed. The Wolverines added another touchdown late in the half with a 45-yard catch and run by junior wide receiver Cornell Conely. The two-point conversion was good. The score at the half was 14-6 Simeon. 

The third quarter was all Amunden. Literally. The Vikings’ first and only drive last almost all but a minute and a half of third. A fourth and goal ten-yard touchdown pass from Gjeka to Vikings’ sophomore wide receiver Shea O’Conor and a two point conversion brought Amundsen even 14-14 to open the fourth.

The speed of Simeon proved a little too much. A couple big plays by the Wolverines added two touchdowns and two two-point conversions. Simeon sophomore running back James Bell scored from four yards out early in the fourth. Bell added another TD with five minutes left on a 30-yard run to give the Wolverines a 30-14 lead.

Of the big plays that gashed the Vikings late, head coach Nick Olson said, “That’s been our Achille’s heal all year. I think it was second and goal from the thirty-something. We gave up the deep pass down the middle. Our defensive coordinator was calling it out, ‘hey they are going to go across the middle.’ But poor execution. We’ll get back to practice. We’ll have to figure out how to overcome that. We’re three and three. We are still in control of our own destiny. We’ve got three great team ahead of us. We have got to just focus on going 1-0 every week.”

After six games, the season is coming into focus. Obviously, each team is different every year. This year’s Vikings squad is very talented. Elmir Gjeka has always been a leader. Now he has matured into an excellent passer. Junior running back Reggie Mitchell has emerged as a dominant runner capable of taking over games. But the Vikings are not at full strength as they have been in recent years. The Payton game slipped away. Now this Simeon game was winnable but got away.

Excuses are not what Olson does. Only after being asked about his team’s injury plagued season, Olson said, “I have been coaching for ten years. I have never had a year like this. It just seems like every week we are missing four or five key guys. Minor injuries, thank the Lord, but enough to keep them from playing.”

“Every game we have played this year is winnable. We are just not making the plays when we need to. A few plays go the other way and we are right there. There is no quit here at Amundsen. We are not going to quit. We are going to get back to work. We are going to focus on Whitney Young.”

Lincoln Park Edges Lane Tech 3-0 in Overtime

[A preview of my Inside-Booster article for this week.]

By Jack Lydon

Ugly isn’t the only word to describe Lincoln Park’s 3-0 overtime win over Lane Tech at Lane Stadium Friday. Painful, dreadful, tedious, boring, even shocking all work well. Neither team could do anything. Neither run nor pass. Penalties. Turnovers. Even a muffed punt. One team kicked the football just slightly better than the other. That proved to be the different.

The Lions improved their record to 5-0 putting them atop CPS’s Red Division. To do it in this fashion didn’t seem to bother Lions’ head coach Andres Flores.

“I don’t think they crossed the 50 [yard line] did they,” Flores said. “The defense has been playing lights out. We just play a different game every week. Whether it is the offense scoring a bunch of points or if it is the defense picking up the slack or the special team on PAT, we find a way to win this year. I think we blocked [Lane’s field goal to tie] with ten people. Which is the crazy part.”

The game started slow and slowed down. The Champions have been throwing more this year than they have in recent years. But that was not to be today. The wind and the Lions’ pass rush saw to that. There was a strong north wind blowing off Addison Street right in Lane’s face as they started the game working south to north.

Wind or no wind, the Lincoln Park defensive line completely controlled the line of scrimmage. Champions running backs struggled to even get to the line of scrimmage. Lane senior quarterback Noah Mayra was pressured on every pass play, sacked multiple times, intercepted twice and fumbled twice. Lane really struggled.

The only scoring in the game came in overtime. Lincoln Park lost the OT coin toss and ended up with the ball first. Starting at the ten-yard line, the Lions first three plays went nowhere. Two runs and an incomplete pass brought the Lions down to fourth and goal from the four. Flores sent in his kicker to attempt a field goal.

This was something of a controversial call. Even if the kick is good, all Lane would have to do is score a touchdown to win.

“[Lions’ junior] Noah Weiss is a great kicker. I trusted my defense. Defense has been lights out all year. Tonight they played a hell of a game again. I was a little worried because [Lane] can run a little bit. I felt that we bottled them up and shut them down. Hat's off to Lane, but it was our night,” Flores said.

Good decision. Weiss sent the ball through the uprights for the only score of the game. It would have been good from 40 yards.

Lane’s offense entered and took the ball at the 10. On first down, a three-yard gain to the seven. On second down, an inexplicable read option by Noah Myara was swallowed for a three-yard loss back the 10. On third and goal from the 10, Mayra tossed a fade pass to the right side of the endzone that had no chance to be caught.

Fourth and goal from the 10, Lane head coach Dedrick Dewalt sent in the kicking unit to tie the game and force another overtime. The dominant Lincoln Park defensive line would have none of it. A host of Lions collapsed the Lane offense line and blocked the kick to win the game.

Midway through the season, it’s clear that Lincoln Park is the class of the CPL northside teams. In recent years, Taft and Lane have been the top teams on the northside. Amundsen has busted into the top with winning records and playoff appearances. This year the Lions are king of the northside jungle. Okay, Taft is good too having lost only to an 8A school, Stevenson, on the road. Amundsen has two losses and Lane has three losses.

Lincoln Park has a 5-0 record includes wins over Phillips, Lane, Lindblom, Comer and Clark Co-op. The Lions will not face any top southside teams like Morgan Park or Whitney Young this season. Noble/Johnson, Westinghouse, Amundsen and Payton remain for Lincoln Park.

Asked if they can “win out,” Flores said, “We’ll take it one game at a time.”

“We’ve got Payton on the last game of the season. We have had a rivalry [with Payton] for a couple years back and forth. Last year they beat us. Year before that we beat them. They are a good team. Well coached.”

DePaul Prep Volleyball Defeats Fenwick in Straight Set

The DePaul Prep girls volleyball team continues its winning ways improving to 12 and 1. The Rams handled the Friars in straight sets.

That’s not all. This was head coach Caroline Gajzler’s 100th win as a head coach. 100 wins in just five years as a head coach. It’s a remarkable accomplishment. Well done coach.

DePaul Prep Handles St. Patrick 41-0

[Preview of this week’s Inside Booster article]

By Jack Lydon

The DePaul Prep Rams took apart the St. Patrick Shamrocks 41-0 at DePaul Prep on Friday evening. The Rams improved their 4-0, 2-0 in the CCL/ESCC Purple division. This game against the Shamrocks, 2-2, 1-1, also in the Purple, took on the added significance because it was a division game.

It was a busy evening on the west end of Roscoe Village. DePaul Prep hosted St. Patrick, the only other Catholic high school on the Northside. Lane hosted Whitney Young at Lane Stadium at the same time just a few hundred yards north of DePaul’s field. Parking was difficult to come by.

Before the game, the DePaul Prep fans, coaches and staff I talked to were tightlipped about what to expect.

“They’re good. And big,” a couple people told me.

Another observer told me, “DePaul 20-13.”

“They can run the football, but they haven’t played anyone that can pass the ball like we can,” one coach told me.

It didn’t take long for the Rams show exactly how well they can pass the ball. And score. Less than two minutes into the game, Rams senior quarterback Juju Rodriguez hit senior wideout Justin Sterner on a twenty-five-yard touchdown.

Not long thereafter, Rams’ senior running back Nick Martinez added another touchdown with a 37-yard for a touchdown. 14-0.

Rams’ senior wide receiver Braden Peevy scored a four-yard touchdown with 6:55 left in the second quarter to make the score 21-0. The Rams were rolling.

Then with nine seconds left in the half, Rodriguez connected with junior wide receiver Matthew Osterman on a 23-yard post route at the back of the north endzone for a fourth touchdown and a 27-0 half time lead.

To some extent, that was expected. The Rams and Juju, a three-year starter, can pass the ball and score. What was not expected was the way the Rams defense controlled the Shamrocks. St. Patrick’s strung together a couple first downs in the first quarter but never threated to score in the first half. The Rams defense held on every possession and forced punts. The Shamrocks offensive line is huge. The Rams defensive line stopped the run. The closest the Shamrocks go to scoring as a 52-yard field goal attempt late in the game that was on target but a came up few yards short.

It felt like the Rams were just taking-care-of-business. St. Patrick had a winning record. They are big and skilled. Yet the Rams handled them on offense and defense.

I remember interviewing Rams head coach Mike Passarella several years ago. He said something to me after a tough loss that stuck with me. “We haven’t learned how to win yet.”

The Rams have learned how to win.

“I think it started last year. It started with us losing a game against Providence [Catholic in New Lenox] by a couple points. Then we beat Fenwick in double overtime. We learned how to compete, how to stay in games and how to finish games. When I started here, it was a rough go in the beginning. Then every year it was a steady climb. We grew up last year,” Passarella said.

When one learn how to win, I guess it just feels like taking care-of-business. Check off another game on the schedule.

But the goal of the season is to get into to the playoffs. The Catholic school super football conference, a combination of the Chicago Catholic League and the East Suburban Catholic League, doesn’t make it easy to get to the playoffs. To be assured a playoff spot, the IHSA requires a 6-3 record. Getting six wins in the CCL/ESCC is tough for every team. You just don’t play teams at your level. You play teams from the higher divisions of the conference.

The Rams face Loyola next week from the Blue Division. Loyola has lost one game in the last three seasons. The Rams will play St. Francis (Wheaton) from the Green Division. The Rams will play Carmel Catholic from the White Division. Very good teams with winning programs. And then there are St. Viator and Benet Academy, historically successful programs and new rivals in the Purple Division. To make the playoffs, the Rams have to find two wins in those five games against teams from the upper levels of the Catholic League.

Asked what he is going to change to get ready for Loyola, Passarla said, “Honestly, nothing. Our practice is going to be the same during the week. The kids know that when we are on the road, it’s a business trip. This is the first group that has the ability to flip the switch and be engaged. They want it.”

They turned a corner. They learned how to win.

“Yup, this group is hungry. This senior class wants to be the first class to bring us back to the playoffs for the first time in a decade,” Passarella concluded.

DePaul Prep Defeats Rosary in Two Sets; Improves to 6-0

The DePaul Prep Rams women’s volleyball team handled Rosary Tuesday evening at the Tom Winiecki Gym in two sets. The Rams have improved to 6-0 on the year and 1-0 in the GCAC.

Maybe the Rams were just taking care of business. Just going through the matches on the schedule. They were playing within themselves. Doing what they do.

But maybe, just maybe, it was more. The were down two of the best players, Ava Wilson and Maisy Erlenbaugh, who were out sick. Now it’s true that Rosary is a little down this year with a 3-8 record. But the Royals did beat the Rams last year.

Maybe this is a unique and special Rams squad that is working into an historic season. We won’t know for a while. There are still 29 matches to play and very good squads. (I originally wrote thirteen but I left out tournaments.)

But maybe. Just saying.

Amundsen Handles Hyde Park 41-18

Amundsen Vikings head coach Nick Olson was not happy after this the 41-18 win over the Hyde Park Thunderbirds on Saturday afternoon. He thought his team took the Thunderbirds too lightly; that the were not ready as they could have been.

I don’t know. The Vikings rallied after and early interception and touchdown by Hyde Park. The Vikings came back and handled the Thunderbirds scoring 41 unanswered points.

The Vikings looked good to me. Junior running back Reggie Mitchell had 156 years rushing and five touchdowns. Quarterback Elmir Gjeka looks confident and in command of the offense.

Coach Olson knows his team better than I do. I believe him when he says that they weren’t as ready as they could have been, but his team handled a pretty talented Hyde Park squad. The Thunderbirds were gassed early in the game but they have some players and they will win games this year despite the 0-3 start.

Amundsen is good. They are going to win a lot of games.

DePaul Prep Throttles Marian Catholic 20-7; Improves to 3-0

Preview of this week’s article in the Booster.

DePaul Prep defeated Marian Catholic 20-7 Friday in Chicago Heights. The Rams improved to 3-0 for the first time in the DePaul Prep era.

DePaul Prep had Marian playing their game. The Rams knew Marian Catholic could run the football. Spartan six foot, 173 lbs, junior tailback Kyle Scott was a load, and fast. Early in the game, the Spartans strung together a couple first downs in each of their first quarter possessions. The Rams stiffened, forcing the Spartans to throw the ball.

An ebullient head coach Mike Passarella gushed about his squad. “Stop the run. That was the game plan,” Passarella said. “They moved the ball on us. I said, ‘let’s just play base football . . . Let’s get after them.’ We are confident in what our guys can do. They know their business,” Passarella said after the game.

“We wanted to force them to throw.”

And they did. Except the Spartans throw the ball to the Rams. Two early interceptions thrown by Marian quarterback senior Joey Baranski killed the Spartans drives without ever moving deep into DePaul Prep territory. Multiple illegal formation penalties contributed to the Spartans troubles. The Rams committed penalties of their own contributing a slow, mistake plagued half for both teams.

It wasn’t until the end of the first half before either team put together a scoring drive. With 3:27 left in the half, having moved the ball down to the Marian Catholic eleven-yard line, Rams’ senior quarterback Fernando “Juju” Rodriguez, a three-year starter, rifled a pass to junior wideout Matthew Osterman at the goal line in the middle of the field. Osterman caught the pass in a crowd for the first score of the game. The PAT gave the Rams a seven- point lead.   

 The Spartans took the subsequent kick but again throw an interception. The Spartans through a total of four interceptions in the game. The Rams took their 7-0 lead into the half.

 The second half was a different story. The Rams took the kickoff and moved right down the field. Halftime adjustments on the offensive line led to Rodriguez being able to connect with Osterman and Rams’ senior running back Nick Martinez for big gains. The drive culminated with a 25-yard strike to senior wide receiver Justin Sterner early in the third quarter.

Rodriguez added a touchdown late in the third quarter on a two-yard quarterback sneak up the middle. Marian blocked the extra point attempt making the score 20-0 at the end of the third.

The Spartans scored on a 73-yard pass reception touchdown that was mostly run-after-the-catch with 1:18 left in the game against the Rams’ second team defense but the game was decided at that point.

This was a huge game for the Rams. They haven’t started a season with three wins since the Gordon Tech days. The Rams move closer to making the IHSA playoffs which takes six wins to be assured a playoff berth. The Rams finished last year’s the regular season 4-5 and missed the playoffs

DePaul Prep started this season with two convincing wins over Deerfield and Marian Central Catholic, 35-28 and 35-7 respectively. The Rams moved up a division in the combined Chicago Catholic League and East Suburban Catholic League. Moving from the lowest “Red” division into the Purple. The CCL/ESCC Purple includes Benet Academy, St. Viator and Northside rival St. Patrick.

The Rams will face St. Patrick next Friday at home. After that will be Loyola at home. The Ramblers lost a shocker at St. Francis 35-21 on Friday. A playoff berth is by no means assured for the Rams. Only tough games remain on the schedule. After Loyola is St. Viator, Carmel, St. Francis and Benet.

Sparked by last year’s huge upset win over Fenwick at home and squad loaded with experience and talented seniors, including expected Division One talent of senior wide receiver Braden Peevy and sophomore offensive tackle Carlos Rios, the Rams football program is on the rise.

“I am excited for [the rest of reason]. This is kind of what we wanted. The goal is to continue to build up the program. We talked about it a few years ago. Where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do. We never wanted to stay down in the Red. We wanted to move up. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. I am excited for it. This is what it is all about,” Passarella said.