jdhitters, capnbillhitters, SilverHelmets

[MWittman]

I believe a congratulations is in order.........

Sam Brodner is a bear to bring down.

After witnessing Libertyville play Stevenson early in the season and speculating Libertyville would be GW's opponent in the title game, I knew this match up would be every bit as thrilling as it turned out to be.

Despite Brodner's performance, a memorable one this is, I did conclude he is only one weapon GW had in its arsenal: The other back, Skinner, performed very well and GW's pass game was more effective than I had previously thought.

Without minimizing Brodner's performance, I think GW's line was superior in face of an above average Libertyville front seven; Brodner went untouched into the end zone twice, perhaps once more, on scoring drives against two solid tacklers in Riley Buncic and Ben Kimpler.

Drawing a comparison to Lees' performance in the Libertyville-Stevenson game, I do find myself a bit startled Lees did not run a bit more often in the 7A game, particularly in the first half. I cannot say the GW defense had Lees completely contained as his statistics were quite good; however, in face of the subplot, the meeting of to potential POY candidates, I tend to believe Brodner would have the edge overall and would earn my vote.

While I have no deep affection for either GW or Libertyville, a modest part of the reason I "adopted" GW during the playoffs was because I was lured into the "what-if" scenario after Mount Carmel fell to the Hilltoppers in the second round. We all have our weaknesses.............

Although an inexact if unconvincing framework to determine which team was deserving of the number-one slot, I find GW fielded quite an impressive team this year and their performance treated two of my sons and me to the most enjoyable game of the chilly evening last night in DeKalb.

 

[JCHILLTOPPERS]

i actually liked the libertyville game plan. they obviously saw something they thought they could expose in the short passing game, and did - quite successfully. it was a 6 point game and lees tossed two tds at the endzone.

It was a great game and a great cap to a great season for both teams.

 

[Wild_Mustang]

Congrats guys. You earned it. Fun year talking to you guys about the West Suburban.

 

[jdhitters]

I believe a congratulations is in order.........

Sam Brodner is a bear to bring down.

After witnessing Libertyville play Stevenson early in the season and speculating Libertyville would be GW's opponent in the title game, I knew this match up would be every bit as thrilling as it turned out to be.

Despite Brodner's performance, a memorable one this is, I did conclude he is only one weapon GW had in its arsenal: The other back, Skinner, performed very well and GW's pass game was more effective than I had previously thought.

Without minimizing Brodner's performance, I think GW's line was superior in face of an above average Libertyville front seven; Brodner went untouched into the end zone twice, perhaps once more, on scoring drives against two solid tacklers in Riley Buncic and Ben Kimpler.

Drawing a comparison to Lees' performance in the Libertyville-Stevenson game, I do find myself a bit startled Lees did not run a bit more often in the 7A game, particularly in the first half. I cannot say the GW defense had Lees completely contained as his statistics were quite good; however, in face of the subplot, the meeting of to potential POY candidates, I tend to believe Brodner would have the edge overall and would earn my vote.

While I have no deep affection for either GW or Libertyville, a modest part of the reason I "adopted" GW during the playoffs was because I was lured into the "what-if" scenario after Mount Carmel fell to the Hilltoppers in the second round. We all have our weaknesses.............

Although an inexact if unconvincing framework to determine which team was deserving of the number-one slot, I find GW fielded quite an impressive team this year and their performance treated two of my sons and me to the most enjoyable game of the chilly evening last night in DeKalb.

Thanks. While we had plenty of cringe moments, especially in the first half, and Libertyville was tough to contain, we are obviously pleased with result. IMO MC was the toughest team we faced all year, including the final. In another subplot, with all the complaints on both sides of the public private debate, GW is proof the publics can compete without more restrictions being placed on the privates.

 

[JCHILLTOPPERS]

Thanks. While we had plenty of cringe moments, especially in the first half, and Libertyville was tough to contain, we are obviously pleased with result. IMO MC was the toughest team we faced all year, including the final. In another subplot, with all the complaints on both sides of the public private debate, GW is proof the publics can compete without more restrictions being placed on the privates.

hitters, iv'e honestly never really heard any northern publics complain. i reiterate, it's a north south things - or a mid-class problem.

 

[eagles2k3]

hitters, iv'e honestly never really heard any northern publics complain. i reiterate, it's a north south things - or a mid-class problem.

Agree. The sycamores and normal communities seem to be the biggest critics of private schools. Seems like a 3a-6a problem.

 

[Goomlah]

Agree. The sycamores and normal communities seem to be the biggest critics of private schools. Seems like a 3a-6a problem.

Well tell those public school TO GET BETTER and then we don't have this silly arguement.

 

[bigkell]

I suspect the higher level quality public teams savor the opportunity to play the upper level private teams. It's the so called fans who perennially whine.

 

[capnbillhitters]

Thanks for the kind words.

I could not agree with you more on the offensive line work by GW. Those guys lost their spirit guide when he took the HC at Elk Grove. He was such a tactician of foot work, most of us looked at our significantly undersized line and thought, no way. Yes, Minnic and Kaufman are kids that could play at the next level, but the other four avg 185 lbs. They started slow vs Brook and HS, but Cochrane (QB) and Brodner kept us in games. Last night though, they opened holes I could have exploited for TDs.

Regarding Skinner, what you saw was the culmination of a season long sandbag. He is a tremendous back and if He were the featured back, he may have put up Scotty Andrews numbers that earned him all-state. Some things are better left unsaid to protect the game plan.

Our QB Brian Cochrane completed 68% of his passes and had something like two or three interceptions this year and had to shoulder the load for many of our games as teams tried to limit Sam. BC made so many key throws all year it is tough to do them justice. He had a couple of first rate receivers until Auburn when he lost his TE to a collapsed lung. For those that saw the C-G game, his 25 yard pass on 4th down into the 20 mph snowy wind was almost as good as his 4th and 16 go ahead TD.

Our defense had a solid year but as many saw vs HC, their lack of size (besides Andreasik) behind the front three big dudes created some match up issues. I have no idea what was said at halftime of the HC game, but something clicked. Hetlett called Gagliano his best LB ever, but I know some of the other all-stare LBs from GW and would never want to make that call. I just know that Gags has a preternatural sense of how to make big plays. He is one of those guys that D-1 schools will scoop up after he puts on weight and shows that he can do what he does at any level.

Where I will challenge you is on Brodner. Admittedly I only watched the replay once, at 2am, but I am pretty sure Brodner had 150 yards AFTER first contact yesterday. Some of those would be tacklers fell so smoothly in some cases, you could almost under value the work. The single most impressive run I have seen in my 35 years of watching high school football was the five yard TD run to close the half. I did roll,that one back a few times. If you have the recording, it is worth the effort to roll it again. He gets the ball and immediately drops the end with a forearm, then turns toward the end zone. He hops a guy before getting caught at the three. It looks like four guys have him short but he pushes through them all before extending the ball over the line with 5 seconds left. Where is John Facenda when we need him?

And while Skinner set us up for the final 6:33 drive with a key kickoff return and a nice first down run for nine yards, there was no doubt who would be carrying the ball the final 12 plays. Just like the MC game. MC game included a key third down pass by Cochrane, but he wasn't needed last night. Running behind Minnic and Kaufman and those dudes, Brods and the boys sealed an undefeated state title. We all knew that if Lees got his hands on the ball one more time, we would likely have been on the other side of this discussion. Yes he is that good. But Brods has a freakish will. All year he made the big plays. There is a TD just before half vs HS that is hard to believe. His one-handed catch vs HC on a 3rd and long during the go ahead drive is already imbedded in GW lore.

Maybe what matters most of all is that no one involved in that game last night should hang their head. Everyone put on a show worthy of all the hype. I agree with you in that I was very happy that Lees ran so few times. Hetlett's soft surround and pound gave up the short routes, but was done, from my view, to discourage Lees from running. Again, watched all the Lville film and what concerned me most was Lees running 25 times. Not sure I had him passing for four TDs in any of my scenarios, but what ball player.

Fun season. Cheers boys

 

[MWittman]

Where I will challenge you is on Brodner. Admittedly I only watched the replay once, at 2am, but I am pretty sure Brodner had 150 yards AFTER first contact yesterday. Some of those would be tacklers fell so smoothly in some cases, you could almost under value the work. The single most impressive run I have seen in my 35 years of watching high school football was the five yard TD run to close the half. I did roll,that one back a few times. If you have the recording, it is worth the effort to roll it again. He gets the ball and immediately drops the end with a forearm, then turns toward the end zone. He hops a guy before getting caught at the three. It looks like four guys have him short but he pushes through them all before extending the ball over the line with 5 seconds left. Where is John Facenda when we need him?

cap:

Perhaps I was not clear or you may have misunderstood.

I was not saying Brodner simply waltzed to his ground tally for the day, but on two of his scoring runs, he benefited from such superior line play he sprinted toward daylight virtually untouched. This observation was more of a testament to line play as Brodner's performance needed no further clarification.

 

[capnbillhitters]

cap:

Perhaps I was not clear or you may have misunderstood.

I was not saying Brodner simply waltzed to his ground tally for the day, but on two of his scoring runs, he benefited from such superior line play he sprinted toward daylight virtually untouched. This observation was more of a testament to line play as Brodner's performance needed no further clarification.

Agreed. I told Minnic's old man after Brods 2nd that I could have run through the hole his kid created. I was just struck by how many yards after contact Brods had. I'm certain you meant no disrespect and apologize if that came across.

 

[mmca]

Thanks for the kind words.

I could not agree with you more on the offensive line work by GW. Those guys lost their spirit guide when he took the HC at Elk Grove. He was such a tactician of foot work, most of us looked at our significantly undersized line and thought, no way. Yes, Minnic and Kaufman are kids that could play at the next level, but the other four avg 185 lbs. They started slow vs Brook and HS, but Cochrane (QB) and Brodner kept us in games. Last night though, they opened holes I could have exploited for TDs.

Regarding Skinner, what you saw was the culmination of a season long sandbag. He is a tremendous back and if He were the featured back, he may have put up Scotty Andrews numbers that earned him all-state. Some things are better left unsaid to protect the game plan.

Our QB Brian Cochrane completed 68% of his passes and had something like two or three interceptions this year and had to shoulder the load for many of our games as teams tried to limit Sam. BC made so many key throws all year it is tough to do them justice. He had a couple of first rate receivers until Auburn when he lost his TE to a collapsed lung. For those that saw the C-G game, his 25 yard pass on 4th down into the 20 mph snowy wind was almost as good as his 4th and 16 go ahead TD.

Our defense had a solid year but as many saw vs HC, their lack of size (besides Andreasik) behind the front three big dudes created some match up issues. I have no idea what was said at halftime of the HC game, but something clicked. Hetlett called Gagliano his best LB ever, but I know some of the other all-stare LBs from GW and would never want to make that call. I just know that Gags has a preternatural sense of how to make big plays. He is one of those guys that D-1 schools will scoop up after he puts on weight and shows that he can do what he does at any level.

Where I will challenge you is on Brodner. Admittedly I only watched the replay once, at 2am, but I am pretty sure Brodner had 150 yards AFTER first contact yesterday. Some of those would be tacklers fell so smoothly in some cases, you could almost under value the work. The single most impressive run I have seen in my 35 years of watching high school football was the five yard TD run to close the half. I did roll,that one back a few times. If you have the recording, it is worth the effort to roll it again. He gets the ball and immediately drops the end with a forearm, then turns toward the end zone. He hops a guy before getting caught at the three. It looks like four guys have him short but he pushes through them all before extending the ball over the line with 5 seconds left. Where is John Facenda when we need him?



Congrats on a great season!!! Great game plan and Brodner is a beast!
You may want to watch the replay of the touchdown right before halftime. Sure looks obvious to me that the Libertyville LB was tackled by the GBW O lineman just as he hit Brodner in the backfield. Don't know how the refs missed that one.
Again, Congrats on a great season!!!

 

[mmca]

Congrats on a great season!!! Great game plan and Brodner is a beast!
You may want to watch the replay of the touchdown right before halftime. Sure looks obvious to me that the Libertyville LB was tackled by the GBW O lineman just as he hit Brodner in the backfield. Don't know how the refs missed that one.
Again, Congrats!!!

 

[jdhitters]

Congrats on a great season!!! Great game plan and Brodner is a beast!
You may want to watch the replay of the touchdown right before halftime. Sure looks obvious to me that the Libertyville LB was tackled by the GBW O lineman just as he hit Brodner in the backfield. Don't know how the refs missed that one.
Again, Congrats!!!

I did not/could not see the block in the back on the 100 yard GW interception return a few plays before the Brodner touchdown. Maybe I missed something. Overall I think the reffing was pretty good. I took issue with 1 spot in LV favor, but GW also got a favorable spot on another play. I heard a lot of complaining from LV fans that they got screwed (you can actually hear them screaming more colorful language as LV was awarded the trophy), but don't know what particularly they were so upset about. Maybe it's the play you reference. In the end, it was a great game that went back and forth.

 

[capnbillhitters]

Congrats on a great season!!! Great game plan and Brodner is a beast!
You may want to watch the replay of the touchdown right before halftime. Sure looks obvious to me that the Libertyville LB was tackled by the GBW O lineman just as he hit Brodner in the backfield. Don't know how the refs missed that one.
Again, Congrats!!!

I've watched that play 148 times and see where the blocker and Brodner hit the LB at basically the same time. The blocker reaches out, but Brodner is the one responsible for knocking him down, not the blocker. I admit that it looks like the blockers arms are wrapped around the ankles at the end, but damage was already done.

Personally I have at least three uncalled personal fouls and agree with JD that the block in the back call on the 100 yd return was beyond nitpicking...guy was 25 yards from the carrier and the two guys bumped into each other. But let's no open any can of worms. refs did a great job and if anyone has a complaint on calls, it would be GW.

 

[Corey90]

Thanks. While we had plenty of cringe moments, especially in the first half, and Libertyville was tough to contain, we are obviously pleased with result. IMO MC was the toughest team we faced all year, including the final. In another subplot, with all the complaints on both sides of the public private debate, GW is proof the publics can compete without more restrictions being placed on the privates.

Will see how long your run lasts. The publics can compete every now and then but you won't see the same public schools fighting it out year after year. GBW is have a nice run, be happy and enjoy. It will end soon enough. Ask Bolingbrook and LWE. East won 1 state title in 2005. They played in another and lost. It's been 10 years 10 years since East won state! Similar with BB.
GBW is having a great run and that's nice but they are rare not the norm. Where's WWS? Where's MS? They are having talent problems. I would be interested to hear from some of those posters. Do they feel they are losing talent to the privates?

 

[capnbillhitters]

Will see how long your run lasts. The publics can compete every now and then but you won't see the same public schools fighting it out year after year. GBW is have a nice run, be happy and enjoy it will end soon enough. Ask Bolingbrook and LWE. East won 1 state title in 2005. They played in another and lost. It's been 10 years since winning at state. Similar with BB.
GBW is have a great run and that's nice but they are rare not the norm. Where's WWS? Where's MS? They are having talent problems. I would be interested to hear from some of those school fans. Do they feel they are losing talent to the privates?

I see your point when viewed against a backdrop this weekend that included a ton of privates winning.

One example of coaching being the major driver is that one of our starting d-linemen's parents moved into IL in the summer of 2014. They could have moved anywhere and played for anyone as their son started for his highly ranked CO team as a soph. The kid's coach had attended a coaching clinic given by Hetlett and was so blown away by what he learned, he installed the defense at his school in CO. The parents asked for some advice from their coach when they had to relo, and he highly recommended the family move to GE so his son could play for the architect of their defensive scheme. I asked the son if he was happy with the decision Saturday and you can guess his answer. In this case, the coach proved to be the difference.

Pretty sure you are a LWE guy and with the closing of LWN, your team stands to be the biggest beneficiary of the distribution of talent. With IHSA using trailing enrollment numbers, meaning your 2016 classification uses 2015 numbers, LWE might be (IHSA may make special ruling), LWE the biggest school ever to play 7A and with the coach you have, a dominant force. GW will reload, but LWE might be stacked to the gills. Should MC folks complain about how your District officials decided to stack the deck for LWE in that they rezoned the best athletes to LWE? No, of course not. We have all heard the silliness regarding the over building etc. Tell you what, if LWE does stay in 7A, AND MC beats LWE in the playoffs, I will quit the board with Domer and never enter another thread.

 

[jdhitters]

I think the publics that are less affected by the privates have a better shot. GBW does lose some talent, but probably not at the same level as some other schools. The north/northwest suburban schools have had a nice run over the past several years: Libertyville, Cary Grove, Lake Zurich. MS and WWS had nice runs, and will likely be back. The DVC generally seems to turn out some pretty good teams year in and year out. The publics may be impacted more, IMO, in lower participation rates at the younger levels. Then again, I am pretty sure Cochrane (GW QB)did not play youth football.

 

[jwarigaku]

And this has nothing to do with redistricting and opening 2 new schools in the same time frame. Don't worry an influx of transfers are coming to LWE in mere months.

Will see how long your run lasts. The publics can compete every now and then but you won't see the same public schools fighting it out year after year. GBW is have a nice run, be happy and enjoy. It will end soon enough. Ask Bolingbrook and LWE. East won 1 state title in 2005. They played in another and lost. It's been 10 years 10 years since East won state! Similar with BB.
GBW is having a great run and that's nice but they are rare not the norm. Where's WWS? Where's MS? They are having talent problems. I would be interested to hear from some of those posters. Do they feel they are losing talent to the privates?

 

[Bwm57]

And this has nothing to do with redistricting and opening 2 new schools in the same time frame. Don't worry an influx of transfers are coming to LWE in mere months.

Jwar,
Please provide your insight as to your statement above "And this has nothing to do with redistricting and opening 2 new schools in the same time frame".

 

[jwarigaku]

BWM,

Lincoln-way North opened in 2008 and Lincoln-way West opened in 2009. Upon opening the schools kids from east went to different schools what is not clear about that? With the closing of Lincoln-way North there will be another redistricting resulting in transfers to LWE as well as LWW and I'm sure central. Its easy to blame the privates for "stealing" the kids but in this case its clear there was internal "stealing" at play to a much larger extent.

Jwar,
Please provide your insight as to your statement above "And this has nothing to do with redistricting and opening 2 new schools in the same time frame".

 

[Bwm57]

Ok. Yes, there will be redistricting of the kids between the remaining schools and they will see an increase in enrollment.
I wasn't clear if you were alluding to something else.