Kits Show Character In Season-Ending Defeat

Maine South’s football team capped another perfect conference season in Park Ridge Friday night with a 35-11 triumph over Evanston.

But ask ETHS head coach Mike Burzawa and he’ll tell you that the Wildkits led the Central Suburban League South division in one area that doesn’t always show up on the scoreboard --- character.

The conclusion of a 3-6 season marked another losing effort for the Wildkits on paper in 2023. So why was there a “feel good” atmosphere around Evanston’s postgame huddle?

Maybe it was because most of the players and coaches didn’t want this experience to end.

Three touchdown runs by Maine South running back Michael Dellumo and four interceptions by the Hawk defense will send the winners, now 8-1 overall, into the Illinois High School Association state playoffs next week on a high note. Maine South hasn’t lost to the Kits --- on the field at least, not counting last season’s forfeit due to ineligible players --- since 1999.

But effort --- even a losing effort --- and character were the trademarks for ETHS, especially the Class of 2024, this season.

Burzawa was quick to remind his players in the aftermath of the season-ending loss that character counts.

“Our execution could have been better tonight. But you guys played with a lot of heart, and I’m damn proud of you all. You didn’t roll over and you showed a lot of character this season. I hope the underclassmen learned that from you,” said Burzawa.

“Our goal coming into tonight was to compete and battle. And it was a 7-3 football game until they mysteriously got an extra down and then converted it (leading to a 14-3 edge at halftime). Our kids competed with heart and desire and that was a competitive football game tonight.

“We didn’t have a lot of experience and we didn’t have a lot of depth this year. And we let a couple of home games (against Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South) slip away from us. Our goal was to make the playoffs and we fell short of that goal. But I couldn’t be more proud of our effort and the toughness we showed. They battled from whistle to whistle.”

Two interceptions in the first quarter by Evanston junior Jayden Rodriguez kept the Hawks off the scoreboard. But South’s Thomas Naughton picked off a pass from Colin Livatino to set up the first scoring drive of the night, a 6-play, 80-yard mark that climaxed with Dellumo’s 13-yard scamper on a counter play.

Evanston answered with a 26-yard field goal from sophomore Jasper Barney and that probably should have been all of the scoring to take place in the first half.

Instead, game officials lost track of what down it actually was late in the second quarter and awarded the hosts another play after two runs and a completed pass, plus a pair of penalties on back to back plays.

Maine South head coach Dave Inserra might have gone for it anyway on 4th down. Game film and a reporter’s play-by-play notebook would both back up the fact that the hosts caught a break. South quarterback Constantine Coines took advantage by scampering 24 yards on a draw play, setting up an eventual 10-yard scoring run by Dellumo with 2:28 left in the half.

The Hawks made their own break to seize a 21-3 lead in the third period, as linebacker Logan Tomlinson returned an interception 35 yards for a score. Dellumo put the game out of reach with a 43-yard TD burst on South’s next offensive possession.

Livatino, who earlier in the season set an ETHS single game record for passing yards, was on the wrong end of a school record performance Friday after throwing 4 interceptions. The junior signal-caller completed 9-of-23 passes for 223 yards and did toss a 59-yard TD pass to senior Emmett Robinson with 2:11 left in the season.

He also completed a PAT pass to Michael Pryor to account for the unusual final score.

Livatino had only thrown 5 interceptions all year before being victimized by the Hawks, a solid performance for a player in his first varsity season.

“I don’t think tonight was a step back for Colin,” said Burzawa. “Maine South has been dominant with an athletic defense. We got inside the 20 2 or 3 times and didn’t come away with any points, but I think Colin’s decision-making has been very good this year.

“On that pick 6 the linebacker slipped underneath in coverage and Colin just didn’t see him. That kid made a helluva play, and that shifted the momentum.”