Prospect, Fremd tossed into mix

By Marty Maciaszek Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted on October 22, 2000 

Heads or tails?

That's what ending a 14-year playoff drought for Prospect and extending a
playoff run to six years for Fremd came down to Saturday.

Prospect, Fremd and Hinsdale Central were even through all the tiebreakers for
the final two spots in the 192-team playoff field announced by the IHSA.

So it came down to a coin toss in the IHSA office in Bloomington.

"It's a shame it goes down to that," said IHSA assistant executive director and
football administrator Dave Gannaway. "But that's the final criteria."

The result was Hinsdale Central was literally tossed out of the field while Fremd
and Prospect are ready to play another game.

"I feel sorry for Hinsdale Central," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci.

"If I had a call I don't know if I would have made it," said Prospect coach Brent
Pearlman. "Whoever called it we owe something to."

Actually there was no call at all but a three-way flip with no direct participation
by the schools involved.

The three 6-3 teams were even on combined wins of all opponents (36) and
combined wins of opponents they defeated (15). Head-to-head competition
didn't enter the picture since none of the teams played each other.

Gannaway said an IHSA representative flipped a coin for each school and the
odd one was out - Hinsdale Central.

The rewards are trips to the top seeds - Fremd to defending Class 6A
champion Naperville Central (9-0) and Prospect downstate, ironically, to
Bloomington (9-0).

"I'd much rather be playing Naperville Central than sitting at home," Donatucci
said.

The Redhawks have been considered favorites to repeat since the season
started. They've continued to roll despite losing Wisconsin-bound quarterback
Owen Daniels and standout linebacker Ryan Amberson to season-ending knee
injuries.

But Fremd's five playoff losses under Donatucci are by a total of 28 points and
its 3 wins were on the road - including last year's 37-33 upset of Andrew.

"I think Joe (Naperville Central coach Bunge) is a pretty cool guy," Donatucci
said. "I like playing people who develop a class program.

"It's a great opportunity for our kids to play a top-notch team. That's what the
playoffs are about so let's go do it."

For Pearlman, this was the cap to Prospect's first winning season since its last
playoff trip in 1986.

"I didn't think it would be that tight, but I'm relieved to say the least," Pearlman
said. "The bottom line is these kids deserved to be there. I would have been
crushed for them if they didn't make it."

That wasn't an issue for undefeated Schaumburg and Rolling Meadows.

Schaumburg, last year's 6A runner-up, got the sixth seed and hosts No. 27
Lyons (6-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Lions' losses were to playoff-bound
Sandburg and Downers Grove South and North.

And Schaumburg coach Tom Cerasani was looking no further than the opener.

"I refuse to look at the bracket," he said. "It doesn't make any difference who
you play, the goal is to get to Champaign."

No. 4 Meadows, which lost last year's 5A opener to Cary-Grove, got another
Fox Valley Conference team in No. 29 Woodstock (6-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

"It's tough playing Fox Valley schools," said Meadows coach Doug Millsaps.
"Everything is a conference game and they're mostly wing-Ts and different types
of defenses, so here we go again. They're different from what we've seen."

Stevenson (6-3) will travel to No. 10 seed Downers North (8-1).