Lemont formulates a grand plan

The routine was the same.

But the focus of their attention was a whole new ball game.

After Lemont High School eliminated previously unbeaten Antioch 38-14 in last Saturday night's Class 6A state football semifinal, Indians coach Eric Michaelsen began the day after in the usual manner, attending church.

Next he met with his offensive coaches, Brett Nelson and Brent Gagnon. Nelson is the Indians offensive coordinator, Gagnon is the receivers coach and Michaelsen guides the offensive line.

"Then we watched film," Michaelsen said.

In the afternoon, it was the defensive coaches' turn. Michaelsen met with defensive coordinator John Howell, along with John Coneset, Dave Michalak and Dave LaBarbera. They already had broken down film on the opponent for Saturday's 6A championship game, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin.

From that, the defensive game plan was formulated.

The same procedure that has been followed all season.

"The thing I would like people to understand is just how much time these guys on our staff put in on Lemont football, and how good they are at what they do," Michaelsen said.

The challenge this week is immense, however, more imposing than ever. Then again, that is what you would expect when you're playing for a state championship. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

"They will be the best team we have played all year," Michaelsen said of Sacred Heart-Griffin (12-1). "It will be a challenge for our kids, a challenge they are looking forward to. It is fun to prepare for a team like this because they do so many things well."

Providence Catholic got to see firsthand just how good the Cyclones are last Saturday, when Sacred Heart-Griffin left New Lenox with a 24-17 victory in the other 6A semifinal.

Elusive left-handed quarterback Tim Dondanville is adept at running Cyclone coach Ken Leonard's spread-gun offense. He is completing more than 68 percent of his passes and is a threat to pick up large chunks of yardage carrying the ball himself. Witness his 68-yard run against Providence.

Running back Gary Wilson averages more than 9 yards per carry. And John Lantz is as dangerous a pass receiver and kick returner as you will see.

No wonder Sacred Heart-Griffin has not been held below 24 points in any game.

"We have seen the spread, we just haven't seen anyone who runs it that well," Michaelsen said. "They can throw it and run it with equal success. You don't usually see that.

"The keys will be how well we tackle, how physical we are able to play against their line and their receivers, and our ability to not give up big plays, to make them go down the field in chunks."

On the other side of the ball, Sacred Heart-Griffin's defense came to play against Providence, operating on another level.

"Their defense is physical and fast-flowing, and they were able to have success, really, all season," Michaelsen noted.

Given all of that, what is it Lemont can do to cope with the Cyclones, who have won 12 straight after dropping their opener to Montini 34-31?

First and foremost, remember that the Indians are 13-0 themselves. They have scored at least 21 points in every game, have not allowed more than 17 in any game and have not won any game by fewer than 14 points. They lead the Joliet area in many of the most meaningful team statistics.

And, consider many of the Lemont players, including a good number of returning starters, were on the Memorial Stadium turf last November, when Joliet Catholic Academy spanked the Indians 49-7.

"Our kids are going there with a purpose this year," Michaelsen said. "We're not just happy to be there. That wasn't the case last year, either, but it was a new experience for us. There will be a certain familiarity this time, and we're hoping that will help us."

Leonard is fully aware of Lemont's capabilities.

"They are a great team and will be making their second trip to the finals, so we know they will be ready to play," he said. "They are very aggressive on both sides of the ball and have a really good running game and tailback (junior Dnny Hayes). They are going to be a handful."

A tried-and-true method for beating a team with a high-powered offense is to keep that offense on the sideline by controlling the ball yourself. That is something Lemont has done well.

Hayes enters the state final with 1,801 rushing yards and a 6.6 average. Andrew Tomala, who spells Hayes, has chipped in with 617 yards and a 6.2 average. Senior quarterback Nick Lawrence has 446 rushing yards and fullback Tyler Burns has added another 357. Both of them average more than 5 yards a carry.

Add it up, and you see why the Indians lead the area in rushing offense and total offense.

And, Lawrence has gotten better and better at mixing the pass into the offense mwhen the situation demands. He has completed 71-of-127 passes for 55.9 percent, a figure that has risen steadily in the second half of the season. He has thrown for 1,290 yards and 13 touchdowns.

"Nick Lawrence has been working very closely with Coach Nelson," Michaelsen said. "He had big shoes to fill (following 2007 quarterback Brett Nagel), and he has gotten better and better each week.

"He really has an understanding now of what we are trying to accomplish in our offense. He is on a pretty good streak of making decisions in our passing game, and up until this time, he has thrived under the pressure of the bigger games. Of course, part of it might be that we have asked him to do more against the tougher opponents."

The leading receiver, sophomore Lee Taylor, has 29 catches for 549 yards, an 18.9 average.

"At the beginning of the year, he was trying to fit in on the varsity," Michaelsen said. "He's another kid who as the season has progressed, he has stepped up his game and we have stepped up our expectations of him. Coach Gagnon has done a tremendous job working with him on his routes, helping him understand where he needs to be on the field on every play."

The other two receivers, Steve Shredl and tight end Bobby Groselak, are seniors who have combined for 27 catches and 512 yards. "We have gone into games where the opponent puts a couple of guys on Lee (Taylor), and Steve and Bobby have stepped up," Michaelsen said.

All of that offense is generated behind a line that returned four starters from last year's state team and now is all seniors, save for junior right tackle Jimmy Purvin. Guard Trevor Rothstein is the leader.

"It's nice for an offensive lineman to get some recognition when you are talking about the top players on your team," Michaelsen said. "We have some good offensive players with nice numbers and a lot of that is owed to the job the line he and the line have done up front. He has very quick feet for a kid his size and is very physical. We look to go behind him at key points in the game."

Put it all together, and if Lemont can win the turnover battle ...

"That's a key," Michaelsen said. "We can't turn the ball over, give up big plays or give up big plays on the special teams.

"Our team has thrived all season on our defense giving us good field position, and our offense taking advantage of that."

If the formula holds one more time, the Indians may have the opportunity later this weekend to celebrate their school's first state football championship.

Even if it has to be accomplished against a Sacred Heart-Griffin team that everyone agrees is very, very good.