Indians' Road to Finals Goes Through Peoria Richwoods

The and Peoria Richwoods varsity football teams have each been trying to play to their potential all season long.

The unbeaten Lemont Indians (12-0) travel to play the Knights (9-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday in the IHSA Class 6A semifinals at Richwoods High School in Peoria with a berth into next week’s finals on the line. Gates open at 12:30 p.m.

Both head coaches feel their teams haven’t played up to that potential, yet. But the team that comes closest to putting it all together will have a shot of playing for a state title at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, against the winner of the Batavia-Prairie Ridge contest.

“I still believe that we have not played our best game,” Lemont coach Eric Michaelsen said. “They are an excellent team — well coached, with great players. It will be a challenge for us.”

“We are getting close to playing to our potential, but you always look for that perfect game and we have not achieved that yet,” Richwoods coach Roland Brown said.

Lemont’s defense posted a season-high and school record sixth shutout — a 29-0 whitewash of Chicago Hubbard to advance to the semifinals last Friday at Lemont. The Indians posted wins over Chicago Morgan Park (56-30) and Oak Forest (35-14) in previous rounds.

“It is exciting to be playing in the semifinals,” Michaelsen said. “Fans seem excited as well. We are hoping our fans will follow us to Peoria this Saturday.”

Richwoods held on to edge Danville 20-19 in the quarterfinals, outgunned Crete-Monee 51-36 in the second round and routed Normal Community 45-10 in the opener.

“I have been the head coach for three years and have made it to the semifinals each year,” Brown said. “The school, students and faculty are very excited to be in this position again and should show great support Saturday.”

Both teams boast outstanding running backs with junior Kendrick Foster of Richwoods and senior Mike Anzalone of Lemont.

“Foster is a back-to-back 2,000-yard rusher as a junior,” Michaelsen said. “(He’s the) best back, maybe, in the state — fast, physical and shifty.”

In three playoff games, Foster (5-foot-8, 182 pounds) has rushed for 113, 185 and 177 yards and has 2,200 yards total for the season after rushing for 2,004 as a sophomore.

“(Foster has) a great work ethic and the desire to be the best,” Brown said. “He truly is special.”

Anzalone (5-11, 180) has rushed for 1,456 yards on 233 carries for an average of 121.3 yards a game and has 17 touchdowns this season. He rushed for 129 yards and a one-yard scoring run against Hubbard.

“Anzalone ran hard as usual,” Michaelsen said.

“Anzalone is a very hard runner,” Brown said. “Offensively, the line does a great job of blocking.”

Both defenses will have its hands full trying to stop either running back.

“Their offense is a well-oiled machine,” Michaelsen said. “(We) hope to slow it down by not giving up huge plays.”

“I don't know if you shut it down, but just try to slow it down and limit their number of touches,” Brown said of Lemont's offensive attack.

When the Knights need a change of pace from Foster’s runs, McCormack will drop back and pass, primarily to Glasper.

“It has been nice we have been able to throw enough to keep teams off balance and it is nice to have receivers that can do things with the ball after the catch,” Brown said.

Lemont’s offense has dominated all season, averaging 40.4 points a game behind its offensive line, strong running game and efficient passing game.

Besides Anzalone, the Indians have other weapons in the backfield including Christos Giatras (97 carries, 610 yards, 13 touchdowns), Mitch Balek (300 yards) and Eric Kirkman (276 yards).

Senior quarterback Damon Aleman has completed 57 of 107 passes for 1,134 yards with one interception. He has 17 touchdowns and a QB rating of 126. He found Tyler Jay on a nine-yard scoring strike in the second quarter and ran in from three yards out in the fourth against Hubbard.

“Aleman seems to get better every week,” Michaelsen said. “He is really leading the offense well.”

Richwoods has not shut out a team like Lemont’s defense has, but that doesn’t mean the Knights won’t put up a fight. Michaelsen describes the Knight defense as physical and fast.

“(The) defense as a whole has grown since the start of the season,” said Brown, who saw his team start 0-3 after losses to playoff qualifiers Pekin (7A), Washington (5A) and Joliet Catholic (5A). “They have learned to play together and make plays.”

Lemont’s defense found its playoff rhythm in Week 3 by denying Hubbard entry into Indians’ territory.

“I thought it was a team shutout,” Michaelsen said. “Everyone did their jobs and stepped up to the challenge. The safety gave us an early boost.”

Senior linebacker Vince Letizia spearheaded the Indians' defensive effort with six tackles and two assists. Sebastian Koziel had two sacks and Arnas Laurinaitis, Connor O'Brien (five assists) and Kyle Krull each had one. Joe Hehir was credited with the safety and he kicked field goals from 27 and 33 yards out.

Expect a hard-hitting game.

“We plan on a very physical game,” Brown said.

“We will see,” Michaelsen said. “We hope to match them, physically.”

As far as an outlook on the game, Michaelsen said, "We need to move the chains and protect the ball on offense. Turnovers are never good, especially against real good teams.”

NOTES: Fans unable to attend the game can watch the game live by going to the website (www.lhs210.net). Navigate to the "Athletics" section and then open the tab watch live event. … If Lemont wins, the Indians will return to the title game for the first time since 2008. The Indians also appeared in 2007.