Following a long drought, the Oak Park and River Forest High School football team is back in the IHSA Class 8A state playoffs. To say that the players and coaches are thrilled is an understatement.
“We’re a hardworking team. We’ve been working hard all summer and we deserve this,” said OPRF defensive lineman Connor Krumrei. “We’ve got a lot of energy coming into the playoffs and I think we’re going to play really well.”
“What I’ve said all along, coaching football, you’re guaranteed nine games and if you get another week together, it’s a blessing,” OPRF coach John Hoerster added.
Friday night, OPRF plays in its’ first playoff game since 2018. The game is at East Aurora at 7 p.m.
Here’s my special Tate’s Take preview:
OPRF
Record: 4-5 (2-4 in West Suburban Silver)
Head Coach: John Hoerster (16th season)
Top players: RB Liam Smith – 117 carries, 505 yards, 15 TD; QB Liam Brown – 95 of 187 passes completed, 1,272 yards, 8 TD; WR Cameron Minish-Murray – 26 receptions, 379 yards, 2 TD; DE Connor Krumrei 27 tackles; LB Robert Kolovitz 27 tackles.
EAST AURORA
Record: 5-4 (3-3 in Upstate Eight West)
Head Coach: Nick Kukuc (9th season)
Top players: QB Joseph Becker; RB/DL Jeremiah Jackson; WR/DB Daivon Douglas; WR/DB Alexander Carter.
OPRF is making its’ 19th state playoff appearance in program history, and the eighth under Hoerster. After having a chance to study East Aurora, Hoerster is impressed with the Tomcats, who make their fifth playoff appearance and are hosting a postseason game for the first time since 1980.
“They have size up front, a bruising running back, a dynamic quarterback, and an opportunistic defense,” he said. “We need to play disciplined football; everyone needs to do their jobs, lean on their fundamentals, and trust the process.”
I agree with Hoerster. In order to defeat East Aurora, OPRF will need to play crisp, sound fundamental football for 48 minutes. Krumrei told me earlier this week that in football, the average play lasts about six seconds, so it’s important for him and his teammates to channel the late Norm Van Lier (older fans will know I’m referring to the great point guard of the Chicago Bulls in the 70s) and provide six seconds of maximum intensity on every play from start to finish.
East Aurora has only 22 players listed on the varsity roster as of this week, and several of the Tomcats’ players play both ways. On paper, that should favor the Huskies, who have greater numbers and depth.
The biggest X-factor according to Ben Lambe, an OPRF defensive lineman, is the school’s Dog Pound student section. He wants them, along with other OPRF fans to come out in large numbers and bring the noise from the start.
“We need our fans to be loud and vocal; I want to set the tone right away,” he said.
If OPRF can indeed set the tone and get off to a great start, I like their chances. The Huskies have been eager all season to show they’re back, and they’ve done so for the most part. A win Friday night would serve as further validation of the season.
I expect East Aurora to put up a good fight at home. But at the end of the day, if OPRF minimizes its mistakes (which means taking care of the ball and keeping penalties at an acceptable minimum – and nothing egregious that gives away free yardage defensively), I feel the Huskies’ depth will wear down the Tomcats, and they will advance to face Lincoln-Way East next weekend.
Tickets to the game are available online at East Aurora’s GoFan page. They are $7.30 apiece ($6 plus a $1.30 fee). The game will be played at Roy E. Davis Field, 500 Tomcat Lane, on East Aurora’s campus.