October 29, 2017— Friday night I photographed the Lincoln-Way East Griffins as they opened the playoffs against Joliet West, and on Saturday I drove to Wilmette to photograph the Loyola Ramblers as they played their first-round game against neighbor New Trier.
In each game one quarter reminded everyone of the realities of the playoffs: winner moves on.
At the end of the first quarter in Frankfort, the Griffins and Joliet West were tied 0-0. Behind a camera on the sidelines I can’t see what a quarterback sees, so I don’t know what Brendan Morrissey was looking at. Was the line blocking? Were receivers covered? Was the wind affecting the ball? What I did see were drop backs that ended in sacks, scrambles, and pass attempts that fell incomplete. The running game wasn’t effective either. The Tigers didn’t seem to be doing anything noteworthy; plays just weren’t netting yards.
But by half the score was 28-0, and by the end of the night, Morrissey had thrown 4 touchdown passes. Execution is in the details. Case in point, the photo of Danny Scianna in the second quarter demonstrating how to tackle: head up (it was in the frame before this one), plant the shoulder, wrap up with the arms. Look at the teammates surrounding him. The tide had turned and the Griffins rolled to victory. A photo that will never get used on the front page of a sports section, but it was an important play (and to the Scianna family, I’ll work on getting a photo of Danny that shows his more easily recognized features).
In Wilmette the telling quarter was the fourth. Through the first three quarters Loyola seemed to be in control, moving the ball on the ground and through the air. The Rambler defense looked solid. . . and then they gave up twenty some points. What changed in the last quarter? I suspect coach Holecek and his staff had an answer before they went to bed Saturday night.
Next week the Ramblers host Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils are a big physical team. Loyola is going to have their hands full.
And the next round for the Griffins, they go on the road to play the Fighting Saints of St. Charles East.
The journey doesn’t get easier for anyone.
AC photo 22 