Maine South senior defensive lineman Emmett Zima dealt with conflicting emotions of joy and grief last week.
Zima played an important role in the 26th-seeded Hawks’ 42-27 win over 10th-seed Barrington in a Class 8A second-round playoff game on Saturday in Park Ridge. With the win, Maine South got revenge for a 41-27 loss at Barrington in Week 3.
But the triumph came just three days after Zima’s maternal grandmother, Candy Connelly, died unexpectedly. Connelly, who lived in Chicago, had attended all 42 of Zima’s high school games to that point, including Maine South’s opening-round win at West Aurora.
“That was rough for my family this week, but we made (Connelly) proud today,” Zima said after the Barrington victory. “That’s the first thing my mom (Amy) and grandpa (Michael) said to me, ‘You have to win for grandma.’ That’s what she wanted, she wanted us to win.”
Maine South (8-3) held a moment of silence for Connelly before the Barrington game, a particularly touching moment for Emmett Zima and his father Bob, who is in his third season as the Hawks offensive line coach.
“That was emotional for me, real emotional,” said Emmett Zima, a Park Ridge resident. “She was always on my mind (during the game). But I had to focus on the game.”
Emmett Zima suggested he may have been the only teenager in Park Ridge who did not watch the Cubs in Game 7 of the World Series on Nov. 2, instead spending time with family on the evening of his grandmother’s death. However, he chose to attend football practice earlier that afternoon.
“His grandmother passed away on Wednesday and he came out to practice that day, and on (the next day),” Maine South coach Dave Inserra said. “What a mature kid, that he could handle that, missing his grandmother greatly but understanding he would play for her.”
At the practices leading up to the Barrington game, the Hawks prepared to face two Broncos quarterbacks: the small but nimble junior Ray Niro, who was questionable with a right ankle injury, and the more imposing senior Josh Babicz, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound receiver, who was at the ready should Niro be unable to play. Maine South junior lineman Daniel Sargeant (6-5, 242) had played Babicz on the scout team.
However, when Niro’s injury forced him to the sidelines after three series, the Hawks initially had trouble dealing with Babicz’s size and speed.
More Top Picks Photochromic Vs Tinted Lenses For Light Sensitivity
Babicz scored on first-half runs of 73 and 72 yards as the Broncos got back into the game after trailing 14-0.
In the second half, the Hawks defense did a much better job containing Babicz.
The 6-2, 217-pound Emmett Zima, who was playing with a bruised knee that he suffered in the first half against West Aurora, had several quarterback hurries. He said the key to slowing Babicz and the Broncos (9-2) was each Maine South player focusing on his specific assignment.
“(Inserra) has been stressing how the New England Patriots have a sign in their locker room that says, ‘Do Your Job,’ and he thinks that’s one of the major keys to their success,” Emmett Zima said. “We just did our job and obviously came out on top.”
In addition to rushing the passer, and making stops as a defensive end or defensive tackle depending on the formation, Emmett Zima’s job involves engaging with offensive linemen in order to help free up the Hawks’ talented linebackers. Emmett Zima was successful in that area against Barrington as senior linebacker Michael Pusateri recorded 13 tackles.
But after the game, Pusateri was raving about Emmett Zima’s ability to play through adversity, especially the knee injury.
“(Emmett Zima) has the most heart of any football player, of anyone I’ve ever seen,” said Pusateri, who lives in Park Ridge. “He can’t even walk and he’s out here playing every down. You just don’t see football players like that anymore.”
Of course, on that day, Emmett Zima had a little extra inspiration.
Up next
The Hawks advanced to play 18th-seeded Lincoln-Way East in the quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Saturday in Frankfort. Lincoln-Way East (9-2) defeated 31st-seeded Waubonsie Valley 35-13 in the second round.
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press