Highland Park’s spirited, 400-yard performance not enough to overcome Cary-Grove

Baseball is the sport that is often coined a game of inches but Highland Park football experienced how a matter of small distances can make all the difference on the gridiron.

The Giants entered their second-round playoff matchup against perennial IHSA Class 6A powerhouse Cary-Grove knowing they’d have to keep the Trojans mighty offense on the sidelines as much as possible.

After allowing an opening-drive touchdown to the Trojans, the Giants put together a solid first series, gaining two first downs, but a crucial fourth-and-1 attempt near midfield was stuffed by Cary-Grove. Two series later, the Trojans again slammed the door shut on a Giants’ fourth-and-inches attempt 5 yards from the goal line.

The Trojans’ defensive stands propelled them to an early 21-0 lead that proved to be insurmountable for the Giants despite their valiant comeback attempt that included more than 400 yards of total offense.

Cary-Grove withstood Highland Park’s spirited performance, outlasting the Giants 49-29 on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Wolters Field to advance to the quarterfinals of the 6A playoff tournament.

A pair of Cary-Grove tacklers bring down Highland Park’s Johnny Walker.

“Cary-Grove is a great, physical team,” Highland Park head coach Anthony Kopp said. “We knew that we had to do what we could to keep their offense off the field, and credit to them, they’re a tough, physical team and I hope they go to win state here.”

The Giants kicked their comeback hopes into gear early in the second quarter when sophomore Lucas Gordon recovered a Trojans’ fumble, setting Highland Park up inside Cary-Grove’s red zone.

Five plays later, Highland Park senior quarterback David Finfer rushed in a 3-yard keeper to put the Giants on the board.

But it was the Trojans fierce rushing attack that once again put the Giants on their heels with a quick strike. A 77-yard touchdown run by Cary-Grove’s Andrew Prio on the second play of the ensuing series gave the Trojans a three-touchdown lead again.

Quarterback David Finfer holds on to the ball as several Trojans defenders look to bring him down.

The Giants could not find an answer for Cary-Grove’s powerful ground game. The Trojans amassed 329 rushing yards, and six of their seven touchdowns came on the ground.

“They’re very good at rushing the ball,” Kopp said. “They’ve been doing it for a long time; that (offense) has good players everywhere and they’re just a very physical football team.”

Highland Park opened the second half with a bang. Finfer connected with senior Andrew Cortes for a 68-yard touchdown strike. The Giants then converted a successful two-point attempt via a rush from senior John Walker, putting Highland Park back within two scores at 28-15.

The Trojans answered quickly, however, with two consecutive scoring drives of their own, seemingly putting the game out of reach for Highland Park.

Andrew Cortes races to the endzone after hauling in a deep pass from Finfer.

But the Giants refused to give in, answering Cary-Grove’s run with a touchdown drive of their own when Finfer connected with senior Nicholas Rosenbloom for a 4-yard score.

The resilient Giants had one more late push in them when they put together a 79-yard scoring drive capped off by a 24-yard touchdown pass from Finfer to Walker.

Highland Park then attempted and recovered an onside kick but the Giants could not rally further as time expired.

“I’m extremely proud of the resilience,” Kopp said. “This is a group of seniors that have been through a lot. A lot of them were three-year varsity players and just seeing the growth and the development and the teamwork within them … they just really bought into being a part of this program and being a great team. I’m so proud of them for fighting”

It was a strong performance from the Giants offense, which racked up 421 yards of total offense (110 rushing, 311 passing). Finfer accounted for more than 400 total yards on his own as he added 97 rushing yards to his 311 passing.

Joining Finfer as offensive standouts for the Giants were Cortes, Walker, Rosenbloom and Nicholas Blumer, the last of whom hauled in a game-high 10 receptions for 114 yards. Cortes caught three passes for 84 yards while Walker gathered seven for 85 yards plus two successful two-point conversions (one rushing and one receiving).

“I’m so proud of every single one of these kids,” Finfer said. “There’s not really a way to put it in words. Everyone has given us 150 percent of their effort. … I just couldn’t be prouder of everyone and couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve done this year. It’s just amazing.”

Finfer stands in the pocket ready to fire a pass.

Although the season did not end how the Giants hoped, it was a campaign that was full of positives for the group, including the team’s first playoff appearance in six years and first playoff win in 14 years.

“It was an unbelievable season,” Finfer said. “We’ve learned so much. We’ve completely changed the culture this year. … We learned, we changed and we evolved (throughout the season).

“This group is so special. I wouldn’t change anything that we’ve done. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

The Giants will be hit hard by graduation as the team will bid farewell to many of their key contributors from this year. In addition to their on-field triumphs, Kopp will also remember the senior group for its impact off the field.

“This group has meant so much,” he said. “Their commitment to the program has been huge, and always putting the team first; that’s something that you really need as a group to come in and establish. And them just buying into doing whatever the team needs is just so important for the growth and future of the program.”

It’s Ramblers right from the jump in second-round rout

Neuqua Valley won the pregame coin toss and opted to kick off to Loyola Academy.

Bad mistake.

The top-seeded Ramblers immediately drove 77 yards in seven plays for the afternoon’s first touchdown and went on to shellac their 16th-seeded opponent from the DuPage Valley Conference 33-6 in an IHSA Class 8A second round playoff game at Hoerster Field on Saturday, Nov. 4.

“Our coaches told us: ‘They want us to have the ball so we’ve got to go down and take the life out of them,’ and that’s what we did,” said quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald, who ran 1 yard for that first touchdown and threw an 8-yard pass to Brendan Loftus for the second after setting it up with a 15-yard run to the Wildcats’ 9.

The next TD came when Donovan Robinson ran a punt back 64 yards, giving Loyola a commanding 20-0 lead with 2 minutes 35 seconds to play in the first quarter.

“Everything was working,” coach Beau Desherow said after the Class 8A defending state champions stretched their winning streak to 16 games with their 11th victory of the season.

“I loved how our offense came out on that opening drive. Then, the defense came out and people did what they are supposed to do and then Donovan, who has been electric back there all year (returning punts and kickoffs), took it to the end zone.”

It was the second touchdown of the season for Robinson, whose previous TD came on a 27-yard interception runback.

“He gives us all energy,” Fitzgerald. “He catches the ball and sidesteps, gets his wall (of blockers) and he’s off to the races. Since his freshman year (fellow junior) Donovan has played everywhere—quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker and now defensive back, and wherever he has played he has played well.”

Late in the second quarter, trying desperately to get back in the game, the Wildcats gambled on a fourth-and-2 situation at their 28 and were thwarted when a pass was broken up.

Five plays later, with 39 seconds to play in the half, Drew MacPherson’s 2-yard run gave the Ramblers their fourth touchdown.

The rest of the way the Ramblers were on cruise control.

Their last TD came midway through the third quarter. Finn Miller set it up with a 28-yard run to the 2 and on the next play he rammed into the end zone.

Neuqua Valley (7-4) finally got on the scoreboard with 7:56 remaining in the mismatch when wide receiver Cooper Lehman caught a touchdown pass covering 42 yards.

“They made one big play the whole game,” pointed out Loyola linebacker Quinn Herbert, referring to the touchdown. “We stopped them early and our offense moved the ball.”

The defense has been in the forefront for the Ramblers throughout the season — holding opponents to just over 8 points-per-game — and Herbert has been one of the stalwarts.

“Quinn is a very intelligent player and he’s very tough,” Desherow said. “He’s central to stopping the run game.”

Against Neuqua Valley, the All-Chicago Catholic League selection also contributed his second interception, setting up an unsuccessful field goal attempt in the second quarter.

Other noteworthy defensive plays were sacks by linebacker Ethan Hogg, pass breakups by Robinson and cornerback Emmanuel Ofosu, a fumble recovery by linebacker Jack McGrath, and linerbacker Charlie Prior’s block on the Wildcats’ kick for the extra point.

Neuqua Valley was without one of the best players in the DuPage Valley Conference, 6-foot-4-inch 200-pound senior quarterback Ryan Mohler.

After running 46 and 38 yards for touchdowns in the opening round playoff victory against Palatine he had to leave the game because of an upper body injury and, as it turned out, the injury ended his season and his high school career.

“He’s an excellent runner and a running quarterback always is dangerous,” Desherow said, very aware of the void his absence left in the Wildcats’ attack.

The Loyola defense allowed just seven completions in 23 passing attempts; of the 85 yards the passes produced 42 came on the touchdown throw against the Ramblers’ reserves.

Meanwhile, Fitzgerald gained 47 yards in eight carries and was 6-for-11 passing for 44 yards. Backup Lucas Holubar completed four of six for 36 yards.

MacPherson led the ground game with 71 yards in 11 rushes as the Ramblers outgained their opponents in total yardage 275 yards to 125.

Loyola will have to cope with a strong running quarterback, Jack Wanzang, its quarterfinal game next weekend in Chicago at No. 24-seeded St. Ignatius (8-3). Wanzang ran for 227 yards and four touchdowns in the Wolfpacks’ 35-23 second round victory over Huntley.

The date and time of the St. Ignatius game will be announced Monday.

New Trier boys soccer caps remarkable season with program’s first state championship since 2008

New Trier’s Ian Vichnick could not have picked a better moment for what’s become a yearly tradition.

The running expression among the New Trier boys soccer team is that the Trevians’ senior midfielder is always fit for one goal per season. Vichnick found the back of the net on homecoming night during both his sophomore and junior seasons — but had yet to deliver his yearly goal this campaign.

Twelve minutes into the biggest game of his career, Vichnick made sure to keep his goal-scoring streak alive.

The Trevians’ senior captain fired a beautifully struck shot from 30 yards out in the middle of the pitch that rocketed into the top corner, giving New Trier an early lead in the Class 3A state championship game.

New Trier’s Ian Vichnick celebrates after scoring the opening goal in the Trevs’ state title victory.

Vichnick’s moment of brilliance was just the beginning of the celebrations for the Trevians, who defeated Lyons Township High School 3-1, claiming the program’s first state championship since 2008 on Saturday, Nov. 4, in Hoffman Estates.

“It was just utter joy,” Vichnick said of his reaction to the opening strike, while noting that the Trevians’ strong build-up play early on made the team believe a goal was coming.

The Trevians’ superb play continued, and just 11 minutes later, senior Cole Driscoll scored New Trier’s second goal of the evening in the 24th minute.

New Trier created a quick counterattack led by senior Aidan O’Neill, who raced up the middle of the pitch with pace. O’Neill then dished a perfect pass to a streaking Driscoll who buried the strike into the bottom corner of the goal.

“I knew I was open and I knew that Aidan would get me the ball; he has really great distribution,” Driscoll said. “Aidan’s definitely a playmaker. He’s a leader on the field and off the field. … He’s just been a big part of making sure we’re always staying focused and locked in throughout the game.”

Cole Driscoll finds the back of the net to give New Trier a 2-0 lead in the first half.

The Trevians dominated play throughout the first half, controlling possession of the ball for the overwhelming majority while limiting Lyons’ attack to few chances, none of which posed true threats at goal.

New Trier entered the game with a possession-focused mindset with the hope of stalling the Lions’ potent attack, which entered the title game with nine goals scored in their last three contests.

“It was really important that we kept the ball and that we controlled the tempo because when the game got stretched, and when we ended up defending set pieces and corners, we all saw how dangerous Lyons Township could be,” New Trier head coach Matt Ravenscraft said.

“So we had to be brave, we had to move the ball, and we had to find space, and that allowed us to have success not only in breaking them down but just killing portions of the game. That was key and we played some of our best soccer tonight.”

Lyons opened the second half with one of its best stretches of the game. The Lions created a pair of scoring chances but two saves from New Trier’s keeper Thomas Terry prevented a breakthrough.

New Trier put the matchup out of reach in the 53rd minutes thanks to the fantastic play of senior center back Kevin Farina. The Trevs star defender intercepted a Lyons pass attempt, then finished a brilliant unassisted run with a well-spotted shot he snuck past the Lions’ keeper to give New Trier a three-goal lead with 24 minutes to play.

Kevin Farina sneaks a well-placed shot past Lyons’ keeper for New Trier’s third goal of the game.

“I took a big touch when I intercepted the pass and then no one was stepping up so I kind of just kept going forward,” said Farina, who played the striker position his entire soccer career until shifting to back line last season. “I wanted to score really badly so I was never passing that ball; I was taking it all the way,” he added.

Lyons scored its lone goal with just over 14 minutes to play when Mason Santos headed in a corner kick.

The goal was just the fifth that New Trier has conceded this postseason across its seven games during the team’s run to the state title. The Trevians’ strong back line of Farina, Liam Myers and Harrison Hahner once again kept its opposition at bay.

Just as it has all season, New Trier showcased its top-class midfield play, led by the stellar work of O’Neill.

Aidan O’Neill rushes the ball up the pitch.

O’Neill joined the Trevians this season after playing academy soccer for several years. Some recruiting by Farina and the team’s senior leaders certainly helped make the decision easier, but O’Neill has always dreamed of winning a state title with his fellow Trevians.

“I couldn’t have imagined it any better,” he said. “The memories that I’ve made this season, I’ll keep with me for the rest of my life. Beating Evanston two times in one year, beating GBN in the semifinals, all those memories and moments with these guys I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. I’m really grateful for the experience.”

Capturing the state title in dominant fashion is a fitting end to New Trier’s spectacular season that saw the Trevians win 23 games while dropping just one. And leaving Hoffman Estates with the state’s top prize is a moment the program and its players will never forget.

“It’s an indescribable feeling,” Ravenscraft said. “I burst into tears at the final whistle. It’s something that is every coach’s dream in this state and there’s a tremendous amount of coaches who do great work with their kids each and every season who deserve moments like this and maybe don’t get them, so I feel incredibly blessed to be here.

The Trevs celebrate their state-title victory.

“These are memories, from this weekend and from this state run, that I will have for the rest of my life, that the boys will have and that their families will have,” he later added.

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