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P«gr 29. PLA1M)KAI KH HKRALII. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7,1984 Sports Chris Jwiwik Sports Editor m| { Creutz gains trip to state meet Class 2A title to be decided on Route 12 Tonight's IHSA playoff game between Marian Central and Richmond-Burton should decide the Class 2A championship. Forget about Polo or Amboy or South Beloit. This is it. Two teams Marian annihilated in playoff competition last season -- Ottawa Mar­ quette and Bloomington Central Catholic -- have moved off to graze In different pastures. Marquette has jumped to 3A, BCC down to 1A. For that reason alone, the two 9-0 teams that will meet in Rich­ mond at 7:30 p.m. tonight are the creme de la coup. But other factors can be cited. Marian is the defending 2A titlist. The Rockets, no stranger to winning football, have won four straight Big flight titles in Coach Randy Hofman's five years at the school. R-B won two playoff battles in 1981, before losing a semifinal game to eventual champion Danville Schlarmah, 14-2. The Rockets made a return trip in '82, again losing in the semis, this time to BCC, which was crowned state 2A champs one game later. LAST SEASON, R-B tied for the Big Eight title, but Hampshire locked up the conference's automatic playoff bid. The Whips, though, were dismissed in resounding fashion in the first round by Marian. 61-35. Marian's football past is one of extreme famine. A 4-5 record was really something to celebrate. But somehow, some way, led by a coach who lets his players call the shots, the Woodstock school turned things around, becoming media -- and crowd -- favorites in last season's championship journey. Press for this year's edition of the Hurricanes has been as fervent. There's something about Marian that people like. * In looking at both teams, the similarities are very evident. R-B quarterback Craig Komar is as fine an all-around football player as you'll find. He runs well, throws bullets, and is a successful kick returner. , The senior has rushed for 17 touchdowns, and passed for 17 more. His yardage through the air is over 1,100 yards. As Hofman has said, that's unbelievable. MARIAN'S signal-caller is senior George Powers, who didn't play last year due to a shoulder injury. He watched as Chuck Hartlieb dazzled opponents, graduated, and took his wares to the University of Iowa. The big question for Marian followers as this season began con­ cerned Powers' ability to take charge of the Marian backfield. He has answered the call in consistent fashion. Had he not had to replace a bit of a legend in Chuck Hartlieb, Powers would certainly be regarded as one of the top QB's around. Suffice it to say, he can plav. The Marian running back tandem of Dan Fortin and Andy Hartlieb is second to none. Not in the NWSC, not in the county, probably not even in the state. Fortin has rambled for over 1,100 yards. He's strong, quick and runs hard. Real hard. In coaches' jargon, he's a gamer. Hartlieb suffered an early-season injury, and was slow to recover. He gives the Hurricanes sheer power in their exceptional backfield. R-B'S SCOTT Christensen has missed most of the 1984 campaign with an ankle malady. He returned for Friday night's game against Huntley, but reinjurtd himself. He will not play. Hofman has often called Christensen his best athlete. The R-B backfield has been manned admirably by Brad Rodiek, and Komar, who has picked up most of the slack. Besides all the players' ability, and the coaching strategy of Hof­ man and Marian's Don Penza, there is an advantage, and it's a big one, that goes to Marian. It's not a Jimmy the Greek special, about how one team never plays well after winning a game by less than a touchdown on the road. No, this is tangible stuff. The bottom line in all of this is strength of schedule. No matter how many yards your quarterback's thrown for, or how many points you allow a game, the big question is who did you play? FOR RICHMOND-Burton, the answer is a sheepish 'nobody.' No blame to anyone. Their conference was down some in '84. The Big Eight Conference had a good team in Harvard (7-2) and mediocre groups in Hampshire, Sandwich and Burlington Central. Out of the BEC circuit, the Rockets played hapless Marengo, and Qenoa-Kingston and Johnsburg. Marian's NW Suburban league contained stiff competition in Lake Zurich and Grant, and moderate successes in Johnsburg and Grayslake. In non-conference games, Marian tackled Harvard and Crystal Lake South. Whereas R-B's best opponent was probably a 4-5 Johnsburg team (which the Rockets defeated by just nine points), or Harvard, Marianls toughest foe was a 7-2 South team i Hurricanes 26-20) which won the Fox Valley Conference and is bound for the Class 5A playoffs tonight against Gurnee Warren. If not South, then a gritty LZ team which lost only twice, once to MC. IF COMPETITION is the telling factor, there's really no question as to the better team in this playoff battle. If simply making the playoffs is your team's goal, then scheduling non-conference games against a Marengo and a Genoa-Kingston will help you obtain the sparkling record which will gain you entry into the state's post-season frolics. THE OPERATIVE word is competition. Marian Central has had it all year long, in the NWSC and out of it. The Hurricanes are ready for whomever and whatever greets them on the playoff trail. Their pre­ season aim was to win the 2A crown again. This is but a step in that direction. Richmond-Burton played in the BEC, a conference in which only two teams had above .500 league marks. The Rockets have made the playoffs, their pre-season goal, The rest is icing. Marian is ready to win. R-B is ready to play. That's why, it says here, tomorrow morning's box score will read, simply, Marian Cen­ tral 27, Richmond-Burton 6. If the Rockets are lucky. By Chris Juzwik Hatadsalsr-Itersld apenU odttsr SKOK1E - Chris Creutz has one more race left in his high school career. But the opportunity to run it almost didn't happen. Creutz finished 12th overall at the Niles West Sectional on a balmy November Saturday, and after all the calculating, figuring and erasing was over, the McHenry senior was the final run­ ner to qualify for Saturday's state meet in Peoria. Tile Warrior team finished 12th of.the 16 teams entered. After the top five teams were weeded out, the next seven runners not members of qualifying teams are picked. Creutz was number seven. McHenry's Pam Bradley, the only Warrior in the girls' event, finished 90th overall and failed to qualify for the state race. "Chris didn't have a real good day. If he had, he would have pro­ bably finished about fifth," said McHenry coach Bill Hutchinson. "This was a tough race, real fast," Hutchinson said. "Overall, this was probably the toughest of the five sectionals in the state." ABOUT Creutz' chances in the state meet Saturday: "If it's his day, he could do well. He's shooting for the top 25," Hutchin­ son said. Creutz was 18th at the state meet as a sophomore, but didn't run as a junior because of mononucleosis. "He's got a lot of experience," Hutchinson said. Mark Deady captured the in­ dividual boys' title, covering the three miles in 15:04. Creutz' time was 15:30. Hoffman Estates Con- ant was the boys' team champion. The girls' champion was Wheel­ ing High School, while Trish Kira- ly of Maine West won the in­ dividual title. McHENRY'S boys' team tallied 264 points. Conant's final score was an outstanding 49. After Creutz, junior Terry Harth finished 22nd among team runners, 33rd overall. Following Harth, junior J.R. Wright was 69th among team run­ ners, whilef inishing 86th overall. Sophomore John Chesler was 82nd, 102nd, and Pat Donahue was right behind, 83rd, 103rd. Mike Maksymiak and Tom Grant also ran for McHenry. "The team didn't run too well, we could've done better," said Hutchinson. The McHenry team can take solace in that it trounced Fox Valley Conference foes Dundee- Crown and Woodstock. D-C was 14th and Woodstock 15th. Creutz, in his state qualifying performance in Skokie, was able to defeat FVC rival Mike Buhrow. The D-C senior had won two of the three previous meetings between the two. Creutz was the FVCVtop finisher. Creutz was also the only area runner to qualify. Johnsburg's Mike Lawrence was 68th. "IT'S H A R D to run by yourself," Hutchinson said of Creutz' chances in the state race. "It's "a lot easier if you're with a team. There's quite a bit of pressure on a single runner." Although the Warrior team didn't perform well in the coach's estimation, he agreed defeating Woodstock and Dundee-Crown was at least a moral victory. "That's always nice," Hutchin­ son said, in reference to beating D-C and Woodstock. Saturday's boys' Class AA state meet at Peoria's Detweiler Park begins at 12:30p.m. PUtndeaJer-Herald photo by Chris Juzwik Chris Creutz looks to be all alone as he strives for the finish line in Saturday's Niles West Sectional. Creutz will be the only area run­ ner in the state meet Saturday. Cardiac Warriors edge Cary, 28-24 By Dick Rabbitt Plaiodoaler-Herald sportawriter T r a l l i n g 24-6 w i t h 5:28 remaining In the game, things didn't look good for McHenry AW*? fpotaaiteam Friday night. ,, Put, the end result of those final 5:28 could go down as the finest comeback in Warrior history, as they blitzed Cary-Grove with three touchdowns en route to a thrilling 28-24 victory. The win enabled McHenry to finish the season on a high note, finishing with a 5-4 record, 3-3 in the Fox Valley Conference. The Warriors won despite six turnovers, three fumbles and three interceptions, which kept the Warriors at bay until the final minutes. T H E W A R R I O R S ' f i r s t possession began at their own 32. Pat Dunne's 37-yard dash, plus a 13-yard run by Jim Shaver put the ball inside the Cary 10-yard line. But quarterback Criag Hill, roll­ ing to his left, threw the first of his three interceptions, in the end- zone, and the Warriors were foil­ ed. Minutes later, after the McHenry defense stopped C-G, Curt Justen bobbled the Trojan punt, and Cary took over, at the Warrior 40. The defense rose again, and McHenry had another offensive chance. Fumble number two on the night came immediately, with C-G recovering and taking over on the Warrior 23. The Trojan offense again sput­ tered, and McHenry began a drive, led by Hill, Dunne and Dana Pitel, which put the ball -at the Cary 26. But a fourth down play failed to get the first down, and the' Warriors gave the ball up on downs. CARY HAD had enough, and decided to get on the board. Quarterback Doug Hughes' one- yard plunge capped a 73-yard scoring drive. The point-after gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead with 2-.03 left in the half. • Hill was again intercepted on the first play from scrimmage, and Cary-Grove was forced to kick a 33-yard field goal late in the half, giving the visitors a surpris­ ing 10-0 lead. The Warriors looked sluggish in the first half. After the drive on the first possession, they didn't show much offense, and five tur­ novers didn't help matters much. McHenry's Tom Budreck slip­ ped trying to return the second half kickoff, and things didn't look much better. But Shaver got the Warriors out of the hole, dashing 14 yards to the 28. Hill's third in­ terception of the night followed, and defensive end Steve Groos returned the ball for a touchdown at 10:30 of the third quarter. The PAT put C-G ahead 17-0. AFTER THE kickoff, the Warriors took over at their 35. With KU1 and Pitel carrying the mail, McHenry got to midfield. Dunne went off-tackle to the Trojan 29, and Dunne and Hill brought the ball to the 18. But all went for naught as the drive stall­ ed there. On the first play, however, the Warriors pounced on a Trojan fumble at the 23. With 6:19 re­ maining, Shaver broke off-tackle and covered the 23 yards to paydirt. The PAT missed, cutting the Trojan advantage to 17-6. CARY STARTED a drive at the end of the third period, winding up at the McHenry 11 as the quarter ended. (Please turn to page 19) On a collision course ... Richmond-Burton pounds Huntley in tune-up By Brian Spears PUladMlw-Hsrald NOTTS Service HUNTLEY -- The Richmond- BurtonRockets picked up momentum for the IHSA playoffs as they finished their Big Bight Conference season with a 47-6 win over the Huntley Redskins Friday night. Huntley ended the season with a 2-7 record, while R-B finishes with an unblemished 9-0 record, the BEC championship and a root in the IHSA Class 2A playoffs. The Rockets will host defending state champion mmtm •+***• fc.iTOii Taking a breather... McHenry's Tracy Hoffman gets a breath as she heads for the finish in Saturday's Fox Valley Conference meet at the West Campus pool. The Plalotealsr-HeraM News Service photo by Sam Nstrop Water Warriors were fourth overall. Details Friday, y** Marian Central Catholic, also undefeated, in the first round of the playoffs Wednesday. Craig Komar was the un­ disputed hero in R-B's win over the Redskins. Komar passed for four touchdowns ana ran for three more. ."WHAT CRAIG Komar has done thisyear is unbelievable," Rocket Coach J. Randy Hofman said. "He has passed for 17 touchdowns ana run for 17 touchdowns. That's remarkable -- I don't think I've ever seen that before." Richmond Burton took ad­ vantage of a Redskin fumble on the opening kickoff to take an early lead. Komar completed an 11-yard pass to put his team on the one-yard line, then took it in himself for the 6-0 Rocket lead. The PAT failed. The first half was all uphill for Huntley, which mustered only one first down, punted four times, turned the ball over twice, and gave up possession on downs once. R-B's second score came after starting from its 48-yard line. Komar hit receiver David Johnson three times for a total of 59 yards on the drive, the final a 15-yarder for the TD. Johnson had seven catches in the game for 142 yards. Brad Miller's PAT made the lead 13-0. THE ROCKETS scored a third time in the first quarter. A 47-yard pass from Komar to Johnson set up a four-yard TD run by Komar The extra-point gave RB a 20-0 lead. Richmond-Burton seemed unstopable, as it added 20 more points in the second quarter. Marian edges LZ for title By Sam Natrop Plalndealer-Herald News Service WOODSTOCK -- In a game where there are more total punts than total pass completions, you can expect a defensive struggle. > And that's just what the fans, players and coaches got at George Harding Field in Woodstock as Marian Central held off a stubborn Lake Zurich team, 7-0, to win their second -straight Northwest Suburban Conference title Friday night. The win vaults Marian into the Class 2A playoffs against Rich­ mond-Burton. The game will be played at 7:30 tonight in Rich­ mond. Marian scored on its second possession thanks mostly to, what else, a poor {Mint. LZ's Tom Marcichek, kicking from his own goal line into a stiff wind, got off a 22-yarder and MC took over on the Bears' 32. ON THIRD-and-nine from the 31 .Marian quarterback George Powers bolted to the Lake Zurich eight on a quarterback draw. Two plays later, Andy Hartlieb scored the only touch­ down of the game on a two-yard run. Tom Will's kick with 6:00 remaining in the first period, ended the scoring. Part of the reason for the low scoring, not to discredit the teams outstanding defenses, was the soggy MC turf. "The field was pretty soft," Marian Coach Don Penza said after the game. "It wasn't conducive to running inside plays that required a lot of cutting. We were very choosy in our play selection.' „ But the Hurricane coach was quick to give credit to the team that gave Marian the most problems last year. "Lake Zurich is a fine, fine ball club. They played real well defen­ sively, Penza said BUT MARIAN .wasn't too shabby onthe defensive side of the line of scrimmage, either. They held the Bears' Eric Amft, the state's eighth-leading rusher! with 1,167 yards entering the- game, to just 41 on 12 carries. > Two of his totes went for 15 and: 22 yards as Marian kept the ' speedster in check. In fact, LZ's second-longest rushing play from scrimmage was an 18-yard run by Mar- - cicheck after he fumbled the punt snap and was force to run. Marian sacked Marcicheck three times for minus-23 yards ^as Brian Truckenbrod, A1 VanLanduyt - along with linebackers Barry Lamb and Will -- broke through for several tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Lake Zurich did a creditable job containing Dan Fortin and - Hartlieb, as the Hurricane duo rushed for 53 and 31 yards, respectively. Powers completed 8-01-I8 passes for 58 yards. TWO KEY plays in the contest probablywent unnoticed by most, but were two that most likely enabled Marian to hold on for the win. The first was a fumble by Fortin late in the third quarter which he kicked forward and recovered himself for an 11-yard pick-up. The second also happened to be on a fumble, this one by Hartlieb, and it occurred with less than a minute to play as Marian was trying to run the clock out. Tackle Brian Gibbons pounced on the loose ball at the 44 on a second down play. That allowed the Hurricanes to get another first down and shut down any LZ chances of an upset.