6A Rock Island Rocks (10-1)
at Crystal Lake South Gators
(8-3)
By Marc Nesseler, Sports editor
November 15, 2002 10:37 PM
Game facts
1 p.m. today at Crystal Lake South High School in a Class 6A quarterfinal playoff
game. Coverage -- Marc Nesseler. Radio -- WKBF-AM 1270
Getting to the game
According to the directions from the Internet, take I-88 to I-39 North (toward
Rockford). Take the I-90 East ramp toward NW Tollway/Chicago. Merge onto I-90 East for
approximately 34 miles to Randall Road exit and turn left onto Randall Road to McHenry
Avenue and turn left to the school. The stadium has limited seating, especially on the
visitors' side.
Reaching the final four
The winner will be on the road for next Saturday's 6A semifinals, either at
Mundelein Carmel (10-0) or Chicago Mt. Carmel (10-1).
Rock Island is a 2 seed in its quadrant, beating No.|7 Woodstock 13-12 and No. 3
Rockford Boylan 31-26. Crystal Lake South is a 5 seed, upsetting No. 4 Sterling 34-0 and
No. 1 Freeport 28-13.
Rock Island last was in the semifinals in 1997, reaching the state title game that year
as a state runner-up. The only other semifinal appearance was in 1996, a 39-0 loss to Mt.
Carmel. Crystal Lake South made the Final Four (4A) only in 1986. The Gators reached the
quarterfinals one other time, in 1993 (4A). They lost first-round games in 1995 and 2001.
Gator turnaround
After winning their first six games, Crystal Lake South lost its last three
regular-season games, including a 28-7 loss to Cary Grove, a 4-5 team. The other two
losses were to the teams that finished ahead of them in the Fox Valley Conference -- 9-2
McHenry (28-20) and 10-1 Lake Zurich (24-13).
The Gators have a common opponent with the Rocks. They defeated Woodstock 12-7 in the
second game of the season.
About the Rocks' defense
The Rocks have pitched four shutouts and held opponents to one TD in three other
games. They've outscored the opposition 114-0 in the first quarter. ... The 26 points
scored by Boylan was the most given up by RI in any game this year. Boylan had only scored
12 points until the game's final 3:01. ... The Rocks got their second defensive TD last
week, a 20-yard interception return by Nick Fleming. The other is by Nathan Gibbs. Last
year's Rocks had three defensive TDs (by Gibbs, Chris Tuttle and Jason Amble). ... With a
sack in the second-round game, Tuttle, a DE, is now just one sack from becoming the
state's No. 2 all-time sack leader with 23.5.
About the Gators' offense
``It's no secret, they line it up and hammer it out,'' a Northwest Herald beat
reporter said of the Gators' offense. It's bouyed by 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior Trent
Steckel (208 carries, 1,115 yards, 8 TDs) and 6-foot, 235-pound senior Brian Marx (235
carries, 894 yards, 13 TDs).
QB Kevin Brockway, a 6-4, 190-pound junior, spreads his throws around, completing
65-of-133 for 956 yards and 9 TDs. His bugaboo is nine INTs. (RI counterpart Tom DeBroeck
threw his first INT in two years last week). Among the receivers are WR Nick Benedetto,
with 13 catches and 2 TDs, and TE Brandon Mize, with six catches and a 35-yard per-catch
average. He has three TDs.
``They're quite a bit like ourselves,'' Rocks coach Vic Boblett said. ``Their run/pass
ratio is about the same -- 80/20 -- and they have a couple of good, hard-running backs. It
just a matter of whether you can stop them or not.''
Against Freeport, Steckel rushed for 151 yards, 107 in the first half. The Gators
attempted only four passes.
The Gator kicking game could be interesting. Their kicker, Steckel, got hurt in the
next-to-last regular-season game. Since then, they switched punters and kickers, going
with sophomore Mark Miskell. He was 4-for-4 on PATs last week.
No Jones, but....
No, the Rocks don't have Maurice Jones, who compiled 1,738 rushing yards for RI
last year. In fact, RI's leading rusher is Dillon Smith, with 871 yards on 114 carries.
Still, the Rocks compare favorably offensively with the Rocks of '01.
This year's Rocks have rushed 457 times for 2,855 yards. They have passed for 573 yards
and six TDs. Last year's had 420 carries for 3,200 yards, and passed for 427 yards and
nine TDs.
``We just have a good team, solid in every phase and every position,'' Boblett said.
``I think our balance is serving us well. Sure, Dillon has just 871 yards, but our two
fullbacks (John Saldana and Ricky O'Conner) have combiled for 870 yards, and our two
tailbacks (Keenan Wright and Waylond Ryan) have 550. You throw in our two quarterbacks and
we've got nice balance.
``Plus, our defense has really played well. Our special teams have been good all year.
In big games, the giveaway/takeaway ratio and special teams are the determining factors.''
Kicker Jason Reda converted 35-of-39 PATS and had two FGs as a sophomore. This year, as
a junior, he's 35-of-38 on PATs with three FGS.
RI senior receiver Brandin Smith has 15 career catches, 12 for touchdowns. Seven of
those catches, and six of those TDs, came this season. At the other end, senior Mike
Adamson has 16 catches in two years, two for TDs but none for scores this year. Adamson
had his biggest game last week, five catches for 70 yards.
Copyright 2001, Moline Dispatch
Publishing Co. |
