Best Wednesday playoff game
- Thread starter Sparty Jones
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At that same ACC/Yorkville, I looked to the guy next to me that grew up in the same neighborhood and said "you ever see Robert run before?" and he replied, "Yeah, I saw him running through my back yard with a TV"
I seem to recall Joliet Catholic being down early in this one. Memory somewhat faded, but down 14-0 early? Furious comeback. Then held off a final drive by Sterling deep in Joliet Catholic territory. From a competitive standpoint, may have been the most intense Wednesday game my Hillmen played, as the outcome was in doubt until the very end.
that sounds exactly how i remember it. and yes, it was a Wednesday game. 26-21 jca, i think.
More competitive than the 3 OT game vs Crete-Monee in 86? That game ended on the last play of the game with CM getting stuffed on the 2 pt conversion.
Easy USD. The reason the Sterling game sticks out more to me, was the fact that in 1983 JCHS was favored to win 5A. Out of the blue, at least for the majority of us who knew little about Sterling, this became a game that was as close to slipping away as it was to winning. Not trying to slight your teams efforts in the least. Realistically, I doubt anyone expected the '86 team to do much in the playoffs. Was that a great game as well, certainly. That's why i rarely post about such things. Too easy to miss something, and very difficult to point out any single event.
You've got to know how I felt about your entire class. Incredible heart and work ethic led the way. The '87 team and the Class of '88 have always been one of my favorite years to remember.
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Dempsey Norman ended up at College of St. Francis in Joliet, awesome at that level and he played for the Barcelona Dragons.
1981 my Dad took me to a Wednesday game at Memorial Stadium, we saw Joliet Catholic win big over Rich Central. Joliet Catholic went on to win the 5A title over Deerfield at Dyche Stadium, great game.
I wasn't looking to contradict you, just wanted to get your reasoning. I always appreciate your Hilltopper knowledge. Hope all is well.
Great for fans, but not so for student-athletes (academics & recovery time) and coaches (classroom duties & practice/game planning). You do not see something like this under any circumstances at other levels of play either.
8-7 was the final score. We (Deerfield) missed a FG at the end.
Rice over a highly ranked H-F in 1991. Current BR coach knocked down a last second pass attempt in the south end zone to secure the win.
I recall Jim Stadler returning a pick for a touchdown, but the Deerfield offense really never got going. Great game.
That was a great game! I was in the stands as a 10 year old and my brother was on the team at the time. I remember Sterling’s QB and receivers being really good. And JCHS was led by a pretty good QB too! - Pat Pesavento who later pitched at Notre Dame.
I remember that game. I was 12 years old and listened to the game on the radio with my dad. Dave Mohap was a beast of a running back for Woodstock. He went on to UW and held some records there. He also coached football at an Illinois high school but I can’t remember where. My sister and brother were going to Woodcohigh then. My parents let me go to my first high school football games that year. Dave was my hero.
My heart was broken after that loss.
Greg Bradshaw was a 3 year starter at quarterback for Woodstock and led the team to the state championship in 83. He also started at qb for Northwestern 1year.
Greg’s son Brian was a 3 year qb starter at PR when my kids were there.
Bob Bradshaw was an assistant coach at PR at that time too.
Joliet East Kingsmen beat that very Sterling team the year before 20-12 in East last ever game!!!
I hated the matchup.I love all Sica/Illini 8 teams.Crete Monee Coach said they gave it away more than he lost it
Joliet Central had some injuries too.Lake Park was 5-3-1.Mattio laughed about it at Marian and said he would have killed LP.He said that's what they get for voting in Central over us because they were scared to make Joliet Catholic mad
Love my Vikings too!!! Funny thing.Another Illini 8/SICA Matchup vs the Vikings.I was down the middle.1983.As long as the school was open Romeoville kicked a field goal vs the Vikings.The big deal? It was the first field goal they made in school history!!!! I remember reading that with shock.Over 10 years and even much more if they included Lockport West in that!!! Same school, different name, different colors
Rich South had a few bad penalties against them that cost them the game.They always cried they got robbed.I just hated the Sica vs Sica matchup
Too many to list.Before I ramble on with great memories I'll say this.My parents were all about education.With that said each year on Wednesday if Reavis was going to the playoffs my Mom & Dad worked a double on Monday to take Wednesday off.I did not go to school that day.I was at the playoff game but I was to make sure my grades were up or no go.If Reavis didn't get in My dad would work a double and we would support St.Laurence or one of the Illini 8/Sica teams.In High School if we didn't make the playoffs same thing.We would go support Oak Lawn or one of the Illini 8/Sica/St.Laurence teams.
Loving Reavis have to say the 82 game vs Thornton.Wildcats 6-3 had Reavis blow by blow.A pass interference late in the game helped Reavis pull it out late.After the game their announcer announced the East St Louis trashing of Sandburg who beat Reavis in OT by 1.Reavis was ready.1983 a bad round Dempsey Norman stud at Tilden ran over Reavis who was not stopped either.Late in the game fans yelled fake when Tilden was going to punt.Reavis didn't listen & Tilden got big yards then scored late to win.Same year TF South comeback win vs Crete Monee who self destructed like they did 3 years later vs Joliet Catholic
Also 83 Morton West defeating Gordon Tech in OT.Kenwood shutting out St.Rita who had the mumps but still should have won.Superstar Jimmy Smith & Kankakee Westview losing to Rich Central is a shootout.If only Jimmy kept his head on right Kankakee Eastridge giving Benet a scare but blowing too many chances before losing.And I'll give the guys credit.Argo vs a Oak Forest team who lit them up as Frosh.Wet conditions on turf.OF driving to break the heart of the Argonauts.Going in for a TD & boom!!! Fumble.Argo recovers then gets key plays to run out the clock & win!!! Andrew winning their first ever playoff vs York.They ate at some place out there afterwards & got too excited & had to pay for damages they caused.That Bolingbrook win over Joliet Catholic who barely missed a game winning field goal.Bolingbrook should have won state that year.
Kankakee Eastridge giving Benet a scare but blowing too many chances before losing.And I'll give the guys credit.Argo vs a Oak Forest team who lit them up as Frosh.Wet conditions on turf.OF driving to break the heart of the Argonauts.Going in for a TD & boom!!! Fumble.Argo recovers then gets key plays to run out the clock & win!!! Andrew winning their first ever playoff vs York.They ate at some place out there afterwards & got too excited & had to pay for damages they caused.That Bolingbrook win over Joliet Catholic who barely missed a game winning field goal.Bolingbrook should have won state that year.74 HF vs Hillcrest.9-8.77 Evergreen Park over Streator.83 St.Rita over Thornridge.T-Ridge had a stud RB who was running wild early.Got hurt then that was it.Speaking of pairings geeze how many times did they pair Bogan against St.Laurence???!!!
I’m so old I remember Sean Payton bringing Naperville C back from a 17-0 halftime deficit to beat the Dons 31-17 in a 6A Wednesday game. Interesting tidbit, neither team beat or played an 8A team. I don’t think either team could have hung with that kind of competition.
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I think that was the year Reavis sacked him a ton & held on to beat them
It was a very ugly FG - either partially blocked and/or just a floater knuckleball type that made it by inches!
The worst FG ever made and the very best FG ever made both look identical in the box scores and history books.
Dave Mattio was amoung the classiest individuals involved with Hs sports. One thing he wouldnt do would go out of his way to piss off Gordie Gillespie! That is fact!
Also 83 Morton West defeating Gordon Tech in OT.Kenwood shutting out St.Rita who had the mumps but still should have won.Superstar Jimmy Smith & Kankakee Westview losing to Rich Central is a shootout.If only Jimmy kept his head on right
Field goal would have been good, but the game was played using college goal posts, which were narrower than high school goal posts.
True story. I was standing on the track near the south end zone immediately after that kick. As the officials were coming off the field, one of the guys from the camera crew who were on a platform lift directly behind the south goal post, came running over and darn near tackled one of the officials. He kept screaming at him asking if he wanted to see the @&*%$# tape, because on film it appeared to be good.
For a lot of years after that, any time I ran into John Cherry, I always told him I thought it was good. He found the story about the camera guy a bit interesting.
I do recall at least back to back years ST L v Bogan on Wednesday - maybe 3X. One game was a total surprise as Bogan gave the Vikes all they could handle - '83? '84? Bogan jumped out to a lead and the Vikes had a 2H rally to win - both games played at Rockne Stadium on west side. Odd thing I remember was that on consecutive St L scores they missed the extra point that both times it appeared the ball clearly went through the uprights - it seemed the refs were clueless as to how to judge the flight of the ball
The Rich South quarterback at the time was only capable of handing the ball off, and not that well.
An interception thrown by Stars ended a potential game-tying drive very late in the contest.
He’s baaaaaaack!Also 83 Morton West defeating Gordon Tech in OT.Kenwood shutting out St.Rita who had the mumps but still should have won.Superstar Jimmy Smith & Kankakee Westview losing to Rich Central is a shootout.If only Jimmy kept his head on right
As someone who is constantly beating the drum for midweek football, I couldn't be happier that this threat was resurrected. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Ugh. My father was a coach for that CM team. He didn’t talk for days after that disaster.
My older brother was on that Catholic High team. Great game. Sterling had a great passing attack. JC's Pat Pesavento led the Hillmen to a close victory. I was a kid in the stands. Wednesday games were awesome. Got out of school early every year for this fun. Good times!
