Addison Trail beats Lake Zurich in defensive battle
Addison Trail senior football player Bobby Rinaldi takes his important but slightly unusual two-way role in stride.
“Coach is always giving me (a hard time), like (playing both) nose guard and kicker — that's the best nose guard/kicker ever,” Rinaldi said. “They always make fun of me, trust me.”
On Saturday night Rinaldi used his abilities to help the Blazers defeat visiting Lake Zurich 7-3 in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs for their first playoff victory since 2004.
Rinaldi kicked the extra point after the No. 3-seeded Blazers (9-1) scored the game's first points on junior Malik Pierre- Louis' 7-yard run in the third quarter.
At nose guard Rinaldi had 2 sacks and helped the defense limit the No. 14 Bears (5-5) to Jake Kubin's 26-yard field goal with 6:51 left after attempts of 29 and 37 yards were unsuccessful in the first half.
Addison Trail next visits No. 11 Libertyville (7-3), which beat Lake Zurich 20-10 in Week 3.
“I figured it would be low scoring with two good defenses,” Addison Trail coach Paul Parpet Jr. said. “It was a tough, hard-nosed game. It was a playoff game. First playoff win since 2004, so we've been waiting a long time for that.”
Both teams had fewer than 80 yards of offense in the scoreless first half. Lake Zurich did reach the Blazers' 8- and 15-yard lines on consecutive drives yet came up empty.
The first Lake Zurich field-goal attempt went wide after a sack at the 12 by Rinaldi and John Madrigal on third-and-goal. Kubin then made a 32-yard field goal as the Bears received a delay-of-game penalty. The next attempt from 37 yards was wide.
The Bears returned five starters from last year's 7A state runners-up. They lost in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
“We didn't deserve to win the game. We had opportunities, and in the playoffs, you have to take advantage of those opportunities,” Lake Zurich coach David Proffitt said.
“They outplayed us and you have to give credit where credit is due. Did we help their cause? Sure we did. We made some not very smart plays, but the kids are young and we'll address it and go forward.”
Pierre-Louis had 71 rushing yards after being out injured the past three games. Junior quarterback Ryan Zygowicz, in his third start after a broken ankle to starter Mike Rybarczyk, had 6 completions and 46 of his 71 passing yards on the scoring drive — a 19-yarder to Jake Atiyeh on third-and-7 and a 27-yarder with Jaavion Bradley to reach the 7.
“It was a huge win. Everyone just played outstanding,” Zygowicz said. “Our line, our defense, our running backs pounded the ball. The line gave me time to pass. What more could you ask for? Our defense only let up three points. We only put up seven. That's just a great game.”
Lake Zurich finished with just 113 total yards of offense, 103 of them from junior running back Ben Klett.
“Very proud (of the defense). How can you not be?” Parpet asked. “They go out and play and fly around and they play as a unit. That's what you need at this point of the season.”
The defense especially shined right after the first missed field goal. The Blazers faced fourth and about half a yard at their 29 and, after a timeout, decided to go for it.
A leaping Pierre-Louis was stopped short. The Bears, however, were stalled from scoring in part by a false-start penalty.
“If it's fourth down and someone brings out a tee, that's the most exciting thing playing defense,” Rinaldi said. “That means they gave up and they want to get the low scoring instead of going for the big points.”
After the Bears did score, their defense held and they got the ball back at their 13 with 2:56 left. They went four and out, and the Blazers ran out the clock.
“You cannot leave points out on the field, which we did in the first half. At least you've got to get three. And the other thing is we have to put the ball in the end zone,” Proffitt said. “Credit their defense. We're a 5-5 team and you know what? We played like it at times and they played like an 8-1 team when they had to.”