Althoff was ‘this close’ to not making playoffs. Now, the Crusaders are 2 wins from state

Just a few short weeks ago, the Althoff football team’s chances of making the IHSA Class 2A playoffs seemed shaky at best.

Althoff came into a week seven match-up Oct. 7 at home against Carbondale sitting at just 3-3. However, the Crusaders learned that week they had picked up a forfeit win from Mount Vernon.

IHSA officials informed coach Austin Frazier and his staff the Rams had used an ineligible player that nullified their 68-41 win over Althoff on Sept. 16.

And that unexpected blessing changed the course of the Crusaders’ season.

Althoff lost to the Terriers 10-7 on a last second field goal, but, instead of being 3-4, stood at 4-3. Althoff also lost the following week to Cahokia 56-6, which, without the forfeit, effectively would have ended any playoff hopes. However, at 4-4, the Crusaders were still alive and took full advantage of the opportunity, punching their playoff ticket with a 17-14 win at Alton on Oct. 21.

“We knew going in that the Cahokia match-up was problematic because of their size and speed but right after that we were real positive because we knew Alton had a real tough year,” Frazier said. “We knew at that point that five wins should get us in.”

Now, Frazier’s club is in the IHSA Class 2A quarterfinals thanks to a first-round win at Shelbyville (38-34) and a second round 26-14 home victory over Red Bud.

The No. 14 seed Crusaders (7-4) next will face second-seeded Johnston City (11-0) on the road with a chance to reach the semifinals. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.

Overall, making the playoffs and advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time in five seasons is special for players such as Luke Gundlach, a senior linebacker. Gundlach labored with his senior teammates through a pair of 3-6 campaigns and also an 0-6 COVID spring season in 2021 which makes this playoff run extra gratifying.

“It almost doesn’t feel real,” Gundlach said. “All those years we’ve been working hard and trying our best and sometimes it shows on the field and sometimes it doesn’t. But it just feels really good to get a good winning season down and finally really come together as a team.”

Coming in as a 14 seed, Althoff felt a bit overlooked by the IHSA and opposing teams as well, something that also has fueled the playoff run.

“Honestly, I kind of feel like we undervalued ourselves in the playoffs and at first I was a little worried because we barely squeezed by a couple of games. But you really get the playoff vibe when everybody comes together,” Gundlach said. “We work with each other and we play for each other and when you see that brotherly love on the field, that’s when it comes together.

“It’s kind of nice to get this far and it just goes to show don’t take anybody for granted,” Gundlach said.

Crusaders junior quarterback Braylon Grayson said the atmosphere and vibe around the school has been amazing since the team made the playoffs and has been on their special postseason run.

“This school hasn’t had a football team in the playoffs since 2017, so yeah, the vibe around here has been pretty good,” Grayson said. “It feels really good. It’s amazing (to be making this run).”

Johnston City scouting report

Frazier noted Johnston City is big and physical on both the offensive and defensive lines. They will look to pound the rock and control the clock with their run game behind senior running back Isiah Watson, who has 1,307 yards and 24 touchdowns on 142 carries this fall.

In a 28-8 second round victory against Arthur Lovington/Atwood-Hammond, Watson rushed for 210 yards on 20 carries, which included touchdown runs of 70 and 35 yards.

“They’re a double tight end, double wing, foot-to-foot old style type of offense and some of the teams that run that around here are Marion and Mount Vernon does a little bit of that,” Frazier said. “They’re big, they’re physical and well-coached and defensively and with their run game they know who they are.”

What Johnston City’s coach is saying

Despite the difference in records and seeding, Indians coach Todd Thomas noted his team faces a daunting task, highlighting the strength of Althoff’s schedule that features several Class 5A program. The Indians, meanwhile, have faced much smaller competition class-wise through the year.

“Anyone with any common knowledge about high school football would understand the difference between the level of competition they have played compared to us so you can throw our win-loss records out the window,” he said. “I would say we are definitely the underdog.”

Specifically, Althoff’s team speed and offensive capabilities concern Thomas. Of note, Grayson’s 267 yards passing against Shelbyville in the opening round is just 32 yards less than Johnston City quarterback Connor Mowery’s total for the season. Additionally, Mowery has attempted only 17 passes in 11 games compared to Grayson’s 227.

“We have not seen anything comparable to what they can do offensively,” Thomas said. “I think it would be safe to say that our styles of offense are polar opposites. My message to our team is we want to try to play hard and physical for four quarters and see what happens.”

What each team must to do advance

For Althoff, Frazier said the key to reaching the semifinals will be keeping things simple and excelling in the basics.

“I think just for us to just keep things simple and if we block well, we tackle well, and we execute on both side of the ball, execute our game plan and stick to our fundamentals, we’re going to be successful at the end,” Frazier said.

For the Indians, Johnson said his team’s key to advancing revolves around sticking to their core principles.

“We will try to stay with the same philosophy we have all year ... control the football and eat some clock and try to keep their offense off the field,” he said. “Hopefully our unconventional offense by today’s standards causes them to adjust what they normally do defensively.”

BND reporter Garen Vartanian contributed to this story.

Snapshot of Crusaders, Indians

Records/seeds: Althoff is 7-4 and seeded No. 14. Johnston City is 11-0 and seeded No. 2.

Kickoff: 4 p.m. Saturday.

More about Althoff, Johnston City: The Crusaders went 2-3 in the South Seven Conference while the Indians won the Black Diamond Conference with a 9-0 mark.

Second round playoff game: The Crusaders defeated Red Bud 26-14. The Indians defeated Arthur Lovington/Atwood-Hammond 28-8.

Next game: The winner will face either No. 4 seed Pana High School (10-1) or No. 1 seed Decatur St. Teresa (11-0) in the semifinals.

Althoff players to watch: RB Malike Nave (167 rushes, 652 yards, 3 TD); WR Lucious Dones (49 receptions, 571 yards, 2 TD; 1 kickoff return for touchdown; 1 fumble return for touchdown); WR Charleston Coldon (39 receptions, 480 yards, 4 TD); QB Braylon Grayson (139-227, 1,869 yards, 15 TD; 5 rushing TD); WR Andrew Lyke (11 receptions, 187 yards, 4 TD).

Johnston City players to watch: RB Isiah Watson (142 rushes, 1,307, 24 TD); QB Connor Mowery (10-17, 299 yards 8 TD).

This story was originally published November 11, 2022 at 7:30 AM.