Titans host SHG Saturday in epic quarterfinal showdown
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
It doesn’t get much better than this for local high school football fans.
The dream matchup is here, and in the quarterfinal round of the IHSA Class 5A playoffs, no less.
The Glenwood Titans (10-1), the defending state runners-up in Class 5A, host rival Sacred Heart-Griffin (11-0), the No. 1-ranked
team in Class 5A this season, at 1 p.m. this Saturday at Glenwood High School.
Way back in the opening game of the season, SHG defeated Glenwood 34-27, but the Cyclones had to hold on for dear life after
racing to a 28-0 lead. The teams appear to be as evenly-matched as ever seen in recent memory, and the Titans are looking to break a
long and frustrating losing skid against their private school neighbors to the north.
This will be the fifth time since 2003 that the teams have met in the postseason, and SHG has won the previous four meetings. The
Cyclones won 30-24 in the 5A quarters in 2003, 28-21 in the 5A first round in 2005, 35-21 in the 6A first round in 2008 and 42-19 in the 5A
second round in 2009.
Glenwood always seems to give SHG quite a battle, for the most part, but the stark reality is that the Cyclones have won 14 games in
succession in the series, dating back to 2001.
The Titans are coming off playoff victories over Normal University High (27-20) and Carbondale (51-21). The Cyclones defeated Triad
(42-7) and Decatur MacArthur (47-7). The winner of this game will face either Joliet Catholic or Washington in the semifinals next
weekend.
“This is gonna be a big stage and a great high school football game,” Glenwood head coach Dan Rourke exclaimed. “With the fans
and the crowd that will be there, it will be a lot of fun.”
Coming into the game, Rourke stated, “We have to keep it in perspective. We have to come out and execute and do what we do.
They’re the No. 1 team in the state. They’re the team to beat. We’ll put a game plan together and I know the kids will come out and
compete.
“We feel like we can play with anybody in the state when we’re playing good football,” Rourke continued. “With a team like this or with
any good team, you have to play mistake free. You can’t have silly penalties, and you can’t give up possessions with turnovers. The key
is to play fast and loose in a game like this. You can’t play tight.”
In the teams’ earlier meeting this season, two first-half fumbles by the Titans helped contribute to the Cyclones taking a 28-0 second
quarter lead, as did a controversial motion penalty on an apparent 69-yard touchdown pass from Miles McAdams to Joey Giovannelli.
But trailing 34-7 in the third quarter, Glenwood got back in the game with three consecutive touchdowns. The Titans were driving for
the potential game-tying score, but Nathan Hack was stuffed on a fourth down run with 5:30 to play. SHG ran out the rest of the clock,
netting four first downs.
Cyclones’ QB Pat Smith had an outstanding game, rushing for 97 yards in addition to completing 16 passes for 110 yards. Backs
Chris Harris (105 rushing yards) and Tavion Whitaker (43) were a load, and SHG had 345 total yards in the contest.
Glenwood finished with 254 total yards, 227 coming on the ground. Donovyn Hammonds had 19 carries for 79 yards, and he is
expected to play this week after sitting out all but one play of the first two playoff games with an ankle injury.
“Both teams have improved since Week 1,” Rourke stated. “We have to play our best game, and I think this will be a great test for our
defense. I don’t think this is the type of game where we’re gonna walk in and shut anybody down. When the opportunity arises to make a
big defensive play, you gotta do it.”
Linebacker Matt Meyer was shaken up last week after taking a vicious helmet-to-helmet blow, but he has passed his impact test and
is ready to go as well, Rourke confirmed to the Clarion.
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
It doesn’t get much better than this for local high school football fans.
The dream matchup is here, and in the quarterfinal round of the IHSA Class 5A playoffs, no less.
The Glenwood Titans (10-1), the defending state runners-up in Class 5A, host rival Sacred Heart-Griffin (11-0), the No. 1-ranked
team in Class 5A this season, at 1 p.m. this Saturday at Glenwood High School.
Way back in the opening game of the season, SHG defeated Glenwood 34-27, but the Cyclones had to hold on for dear life after
racing to a 28-0 lead. The teams appear to be as evenly-matched as ever seen in recent memory, and the Titans are looking to break a
long and frustrating losing skid against their private school neighbors to the north.
This will be the fifth time since 2003 that the teams have met in the postseason, and SHG has won the previous four meetings. The
Cyclones won 30-24 in the 5A quarters in 2003, 28-21 in the 5A first round in 2005, 35-21 in the 6A first round in 2008 and 42-19 in the 5A
second round in 2009.
Glenwood always seems to give SHG quite a battle, for the most part, but the stark reality is that the Cyclones have won 14 games in
succession in the series, dating back to 2001.
The Titans are coming off playoff victories over Normal University High (27-20) and Carbondale (51-21). The Cyclones defeated Triad
(42-7) and Decatur MacArthur (47-7). The winner of this game will face either Joliet Catholic or Washington in the semifinals next
weekend.
“This is gonna be a big stage and a great high school football game,” Glenwood head coach Dan Rourke exclaimed. “With the fans
and the crowd that will be there, it will be a lot of fun.”
Coming into the game, Rourke stated, “We have to keep it in perspective. We have to come out and execute and do what we do.
They’re the No. 1 team in the state. They’re the team to beat. We’ll put a game plan together and I know the kids will come out and
compete.
“We feel like we can play with anybody in the state when we’re playing good football,” Rourke continued. “With a team like this or with
any good team, you have to play mistake free. You can’t have silly penalties, and you can’t give up possessions with turnovers. The key
is to play fast and loose in a game like this. You can’t play tight.”
In the teams’ earlier meeting this season, two first-half fumbles by the Titans helped contribute to the Cyclones taking a 28-0 second
quarter lead, as did a controversial motion penalty on an apparent 69-yard touchdown pass from Miles McAdams to Joey Giovannelli.
But trailing 34-7 in the third quarter, Glenwood got back in the game with three consecutive touchdowns. The Titans were driving for
the potential game-tying score, but Nathan Hack was stuffed on a fourth down run with 5:30 to play. SHG ran out the rest of the clock,
netting four first downs.
Cyclones’ QB Pat Smith had an outstanding game, rushing for 97 yards in addition to completing 16 passes for 110 yards. Backs
Chris Harris (105 rushing yards) and Tavion Whitaker (43) were a load, and SHG had 345 total yards in the contest.
Glenwood finished with 254 total yards, 227 coming on the ground. Donovyn Hammonds had 19 carries for 79 yards, and he is
expected to play this week after sitting out all but one play of the first two playoff games with an ankle injury.
“Both teams have improved since Week 1,” Rourke stated. “We have to play our best game, and I think this will be a great test for our
defense. I don’t think this is the type of game where we’re gonna walk in and shut anybody down. When the opportunity arises to make a
big defensive play, you gotta do it.”
Linebacker Matt Meyer was shaken up last week after taking a vicious helmet-to-helmet blow, but he has passed his impact test and
is ready to go as well, Rourke confirmed to the Clarion.
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Issue Date: Nov. 10, 2011
