Maine South football fans who are making the 100-mile round trip journey to watch their team play at Lincoln-Way East in Saturday’s Class 8A quarterfinal game can be pretty confident they will be entertained once they get to Frankfort. The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
The 26th-seeded Hawks (8-3) and 18-seeded Griffins (9-2) both have talented, multi-dimensional offenses and defenses that have been vulnerable against quality teams.
Both programs also are traditional powers. They have combined to win four state titles and earn four second-place finishes (Maine South has three of each) since Dave Inserra and Rob Zvonar took over Maine South and Lincoln-Way East, respectively, in 2001.
Maine South is coming off a 42-27 win over 10th-seeded Barrington last week, a game in which the Hawks defense tightened up during the second half. In the first round, Maine South won a 42-40 thriller at seventh-seeded West Aurora.
Lincoln-Way East recorded a 35-13 win over 31st-seeded Waubonsie Valley (6-4) in the second round of the playoffs. During the regular season, the Griffins lost to the two opponents with the best record on their schedule: Lincoln-Way East fell 35-30 to Homewood-Flossmoor (10-1) and lost 38-21 to Bradley-Bourbonnais (10-1).
Maine South offensive coordinator Charlie Bliss hinted that his team is prepared for another back-and-forth contest.
“We’re hoping for another barn burner,” said Bliss, in his 16th season as the offensive coordinator. “We’re going to (Lincoln-Way East’s) ballpark and they are going to be up for it. We have to weather the storm. We have to win every quarter and can’t go down 14 (early), because it’s hard to change that momentum.”
Maine South and Lincoln-Way East have a history. They played on the opening day of the regular season in 2002 and 2003, splitting those matchups. Most notably, they met in the 2005 Class 8A title game, which the Griffins won 30-24 in double overtime.
Pioneer Press freelance sports reporter Dan Shalin broke down Saturday’s matchup:
Who has the edge when Maine South runs the ball?
When Maine South runs the ball it will usually end up in the hands of junior Fotis Kokosioulis (134 carries, 1,154 yards, 17 TD) or stay with senior quarterback Nick Leongas (116 carries, 847 yards, 11 TD). Though the Hawks’ spread offense has produced many big plays, the team has successfully employed more of a ball-control running attack during the second half of its first two playoff games.
Lincoln-Way East will counter with a front four Inserra called the best Maine South has seen this season.
Not only does the defensive line have talented performers, like junior defensive end Ben Ravetto (four tackles for loss versus Waubonsie Valley), but there is a great deal of depth. After the closing of Lincoln-Way North at the end of the 2015-16 school year, Lincoln-Way East inherited an additional 40 players, and had a 138-man roster during the regular season. So, Zvonar has options galore.
“They played a couple different guys at defensive tackle, and went quicker (on the defensive line),” Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy said about last week’s game. “They outquicked us on the interior and in the inside zone.”
Edge: Maine South
Who has the edge when Maine South passes the ball?
More Top Picks Lattafa Perfumes For Unisex Eau De Parfum
Passing the ball might represent Maine South’s best chance to exploit Lincoln-Way East’s defense, provided it can pass block. Leongas (125-of-195, 2,287 yards, 23 touchdowns, 2 interceptions) has been a revelation throwing the ball this season, and has been especially effective when forced to improvise.
“(Leongas) is good at keeping plays alive. He makes me look good when the play breaks down,” Bliss said.
Maine South’s stable of receivers includes exciting senior Matt Holbrook (team-high 34 catches, 624 yards, 6 TD), 6-foot-6 senior Luke Hinkamp (19 catches, 477 yards, 7 TD) and athletic junior Cam Stacy (31 catches, 567 yards, 5 TD).
Edge: Maine South
Who has the edge when Lincoln-Way East runs the ball?
Lincoln-Way East has spread it around a little more than Maine South, with senior running back Nigel Muhammad and junior running back Brendan Morrissey leading the way.
The Griffins ran 75 percent of the time and gained 316 yards on the ground against Waubonsie Valley. However, Lincoln-Way East passed 75 percent of the time in the loss to Homewood-Flossmoor during the regular season, according to Inserra.
Ball carriers will find it difficult to run right up the middle with Maine South senior and Michigan State recruit Kevin Jarvis (6-5, 340 pounds) plugging up the middle of the line. Senior linebacker Michael Pusateri (116 tackles, which is 42 more than any teammate) is a playmaker. However, the Hawks have given up their share of big running plays during the last two weeks.
Edge: Lincoln-Way East
Who has the edge when Lincoln-Way East passes the ball?
When Lincoln-Way East passes the ball, senior quarterback Jake Arthur’s main target likely will be 6-4 senior Jeremy Nelson. Another 6-4 senior, Max Shafer, who is the backup quarterback, caught a touchdown pass against Waubonsie Valley.
Maine South’s defensive backfield has improved as the season has gone along. Senior safety Jack Hoffman returned an interception for a touchdown against Barrington last week, and senior cornerback Matthew Schneider also had an interception.
With the Hawks’ starting defensive backs all under 5-10, the 6-0 Stacy likely will get more time at safety in order to deal with the Griffins’ tall receivers.
Edge: Lincoln-Way East
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press