Giants’ second-half fight not enough against defending 6A champs

Maybe the result was inevitable in the third quarter, but no one told Highland Park.

Down 35-0, the Giants outscored defending IHSA Class 6A champion Fenwick 20-3 in the final 17 minutes of play on Friday, Oct. 30, at Triton College, fighting to the finish of the program’s third seven-win season in four years.

“We started to get into a rhythm, and all week in the back of our minds was like, ‘We don’t want this to end,'” Highland Park senior Addison Courtman-Simanek said. “That inner fight came to the next level. Obviously we wish it could have in the first quarter, earlier, but I just love these guys. They fight every day and are the best group of guys you could ask for.” 

The Friars pushed through a stubborn Giants defense for two scores in the first half, while Highland Park couldn’t find the same fortune.

The Giants two trips to the red zone in the first half resulted in no points, as they looked to upset the host Friars.

“We did a good job marching down field and then it would be like one thing,” Giants coach Anthony Kopp said. “We had a couple questionable holding penalties against us that set us back. We got down into the red zone and then pushed back from there. Especially against a top defense, you get a couple holding calls and it’s hard.”

Fenwick extended its lead with a score just before halftime, and then out of the half, scored twice within two minutes — taking advantage of good field position after a squib kick and then returning an interception to the end zone.

Facing the daunting deficit, Highland Park kept at it and finally found paydirt when Gustav Crane found Peter Dimitriou between defenders for a long touchdown catch midway through the third quarter.

Crane and Dimitriou connected again for a touchdown — this time a 21-yarder — one quarter later.

In between the scores, Giants junior cornerback Mason Auslander intercepted a pass and returned it to 30 yards; though that Giants drive stalled.

The final Highland Park score came with 90 seconds to play when John Boman punched one into the end zone from a yard away. Bowman’s 8-yard run set up the score.

“It’s all about fight,” Courtman-Simanek said. “Everybody underestimates us. People count us out. So we just wanted to show that we can play hard, we can compete. … We played hard, we proved it.”

After that final whistle, Highland Park finished its season with a 7-4 record and a second straight playoff berth — the first time that’s happened under Kopp, who began his Giants tenure in 2022.

Highland Park, though, is no stranger to the postseason, qualifying four times in five years between 2013-’17 and eight straight years from 2003-2010.

The Giants were also league champions in 2026, winning the inaugural Central Suburban League Central title with a 3-0 mark. The results gave Highland Park 11 straight conference wins dating back to 2024 and including a CSL North title (5-0) in 2025.

Highland Park will wave goodbye to starting seniors Crane, Dimitriou and fellow receivers Owen Loftus and Max Stevens, running back and linebacker Zion Wood, linebacker Dugan Hever, two-way lineman Courtman-simanek, offensive linemen Asher Mizrahi, and Justin Lopez, and center and linebacker Max Glazier.

Kopp gave credit to his senior-heavy roster for the late-game push and maintaining a winning standard.

“It’s a great group of seniors,” he said. “They are committed; they are motivated. They wanted to finish strong; they wanted to finish fighting. They did a great job of playing to the last whistle.”

He added, “We felt like we had a chance this game. We were confident ready, just a couple things didn’t go our way and they capitalized on some plays, but we felt we could play with a team like this. I think that says a lot to our seniors and stacking some good years now.”

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