CN100 Game of the Week preview: IHSA Football 8A Quarterfinal - Brother Rice vs. Palatine

IHSA Football Playoffs 8A Quarterfinal – Brother Rice vs. Palatine

PALATINE – Brother Rice’s quest for the program’s second state title sends it on the road in the Class 8A quarterfinals.
The Crusaders toppled Bartlett (49-21) and South Elgin (34-28) at home, but now travel to Palatine in a game which will be broadcast by CN100 at Noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15, and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17. You can also find it in HD with Xfinity On Demand.
Brother Rice (10-1) has played only 10 games, with one win coming by way of a forfeit, but that hasn’t slowed the dynamic duo of senior quarterback Camren Miller and junior wide receiver Ricky Smalling. Miller has gone 227-for-326 for 2,826 yards, 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The 35 touchdowns are already a program record.
Smalling emerged as one of the state’s top receivers this season, hauling in 73 passes for 1,052 yards, both school records, to go with 14 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Julian Blain also caught 14 touchdowns, part of a 56-catch, 782-yard campaign. Miller spreads the ball to senior wide receiver Mike Kubil (37 catches, 347 yards, three touchdowns) and junior wide receiver Branden Houston (30 catches, 296 yards, two touchdowns).
Senior running back Clifton Taylor controls the run game, picking up 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns in 185 carries. Junior running back Xavian Valladay has 291 yards and five scores in 41 carries. Miller adds 207 yards and two scores on the ground.
Defensively, the Crusaders allowed 24.5 points per game, but have an active defense. Senior linebacker Jack Nelligan leads the way with 67 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Senior Tahj Silas (38 tackles, five sacks, 10 tackles for loss) flanks him.
In the secondary, a pair of juniors lead the way: Aarion Lacy has 36 tackles and six interceptions, good for 137 yards in returns, and Brian Olsen with 51 tackles and three picks.
Palatine (9-2 overall, 4-1 Mid-Suburban West) features one of the most dynamic two-way quarterbacks in the state in junior Zachary Oles. He’s thrown for 1,706 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions through the air. He may be even more dangerous on the ground, however, as he’s rushed for 1,125 yards and 16 touchdowns in 175 carries.
Junior running back Joshua Turner pitches in with 524 yards and seven touchdowns in 85 carries, adding in nine catches for 194 yards and two scores. In the passing game, Oles targets senior wide receiver Matthew Lamm (49 catches, 697 yards, and six touchdowns) and sophomore wide receiver Johnny O’Shea (23 catches, 358 yards, four touchdowns).
The Pirates are solid defensively at all three levels. It starts up front with junior defensive lineman Majetete Balanganayi, who has 53 tackles, eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He is flanked by senior Ethan Senner, who has 32 tackles, four sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Senior linebacker Michael Williams leads the team with 81 tackles. He’s added two sacks, six tackles for loss and two interceptions for 39 yards in returns.
The secondary is paced by junior Dylan Tapia’s 59 tackles and five interceptions, and senior Danny Garcia, who has three picks.
- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent

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