Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Cahokia eager to take on major test

Joliet Catholic is owner of 13 state crowns

CAHOKIA -- The Cahokia Comanches know all about Joliet Catholic's 13 state football championships.

But when they play host to the Hilltoppers (8-2) at 2 p.m. today in a second-round game of the Class 5A playoffs, the Comanches (9-1) will have one objective.

"Our kids see they've had 13 state championships and this and that. They don't really care," Cahokia coach Antwyne Golliday said. "Our kids want to make sure they don't get 14. That's the way we're approaching it. That's what we're looking at. They can't get 14 if they don't get past us."

But Golliday understands the complexity of the assignment. Joliet Catholic has scored 344 points, averages 316 rushing yards per game and does enough in the passing department to keep opponents honest.

"It's probably the elite program in the state, but it's a ballgame," Golliday said. "We're going to show up. We'll be ready. We're going to give them what we've got and they're going to give us what they've got, and the best team will come out on top."

Golliday expects the Comanches' defense to face a steady diet of running backs Josh Ferguson, Malin Jones and Jordan Lyles. The trio has combined for 2,633 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Ferguson, a 5-foot-8, 155-pound junior, is the ringleader. He's gained 1,144 yards and scored 16 TDs on just 116 carries, averaging 9.9 yards per touch.

"We're not just keying him," Golliday said. "Whoever gets the ball, we've got to keep playing and make plays. (Ferguson) has a little more speed than the other guys. It looks like he could be playing for us. But their other guys are pretty good, too."

Jones, a 6-2, 190-pound sophomore, has rushed for 812 yards and 11 TDs, while the 5-8, 170-pound Lyles, a senior, has gained 677 yards and scored four TDs. Ty Isaac, a 6-2, 190-pound freshman, has added 493 yards and four TDs.

Hilltoppers quarterback Anthony Maddie, a 6-1, 160-pound sophomore, has thrown for 757 yards and six TDs. Junior Alex Kolodziej has 18 receptions for 461 yards and four TDs.

"You've got to be disciplined," Golliday said. "They're going to run it down your throat. You can't play the run (exclusively) because they will pass it."

Cahokia will turn to its playmakers on offense: quarterback Patrick Ivy, tailback Joe Grinston and receiver Jimmie Hunt.

Ivy, a 6-3, 190-pound senior, is 108-for-199 (54 percent) for 1,796 yards and 20 TDs --with just two interceptions. With 302 yards on 60 carries, he's also the Comanches' third-leading rusher behind Grinston, a 5-8, 165-pound senior, and Rodney Scott, a speedy 5-5, 140-pound senior.

Grinston has 508 yards and five TDs; Scott has 340 yards and two TDs.

Hunt, a 6-0, 190-pound senior who has verbally committed to Missouri, has 34 catches for 629 yards and 10 TDs.

"We're going to do what we do, and we've got some other things we're going to do," said Golliday, hinting of a few new wrinkles, perhaps a trick play or two, in the Comanches' offense. "We're not going to change anything. We're going to do what got us to the dance.

"The biggest thing (for us) is taking care of the ball. If we can take care of the ball, we should be in good shape. If they turn it over, we've got to come back and put it in the end zone."

The Hilltoppers have been penalized for 491 yards and have had a penchant to turn the ball over.

"They put it on the ground, but they put it in the end zone, too," Golliday said.

With good weather expected, Golliday said the Hilltoppers probably will be the best team the Comanches have seen.

"The (Springfield Sacred Heart-) Griffin game was so much with the mud," Golliday said, referring to a 20-6 loss to the Cyclones in the regular-season finale Oct. 23. "They couldn't do what they wanted to do and we couldn't do what we wanted to do.

"On a dry field, this will probably be the best team we've played."