Cardinals’ air attack hurts CoalersBy Kyle Garmeskgarmes@daily-journal.com815-937-3390 STILLMAN VALLEY — Coal City entered Saturday’s Class 4A second-round matchup wary of Stillman Valley’s rushing attack.That ground game proved to be the final dagger in the Coalers’ season.But Coal City turnovers, as well as success from Stillman Valley’s lesser-known passing game, certainly helped the Cardinals pull away for a 28-13 win.And so ended another strong Coal City season, one in which the Coalers rebounded from a 4-5 mark last year and a rare playoff miss.“We had a real good year coming off last year,” said Coal City quarterback Cody Onsen, who never quite got going in the passing game Saturday. “We can’t put our heads down. We played hard all season. Just came up short tonight. We didn’t take opportunities when we had to. Can’t be holding our heads down like that.”Stillman Valley entered with three running backs with more than 400 yards rushing on the season, but the Cardinals built a 21-7 halftime lead with the help of their passing game.In the first quarter, Stillman Valley quarterback Jeff Cialkowski hooked up with Eric Boettcher on a quick pass over the left side. Boettcher, a step ahead of the Coaler defenders, raced in for a 78-yard score, and the extra point made it 7-0 with 5:53 left.But Onsen showed his athleticism to help the Coalers even things on the first play of the second quarter. He moved to his left while avoiding pressure, then heaved a 43-yard bomb to Ryan Bonarek, who jumped up to reel in the touchdown pass, even though pass interference was called on the defender. The extra point made it 7-all. Coal City had brought back some of the momentum, and the quarterback was feeling better.“Oh, yeah,” he said. “After we tied it up, we hit that one, and then just thought, ‘Let’s get it going now,’ and then we could just never get it going.”But later in the quarter, Onsen fumbled on a rush up the middle in Stillman Valley territory. The Cardinals’ Jake Wold, one of their key running backs, raced the return back to the Coalers’ 13-yard line. Two plays later, Cialkowski found Jordan Tanaglia across the middle for a 9-yard touchdown pass.Stillman Valley’s passing game struck again at the end of the half. Cialkowski found Tanaglia for a 23-yard pass on fourth down, moving the Cardinals to Coal City’s 6-yard line. On fourth and goal, Cialkowski found P.J. Gammel across the middle for a 5-yard touchdown with 19.3 seconds left in the half.Stillman Valley’s well-known rushing game buried the Coalers on the opening drive of the second half. On a nine-play drive — all on the ground — Wold ran for a 5-yard touchdown with 8:49 left in the quarter. The extra point made it 28-7. Stillman Valley didn’t throw a pass in the second half. Coal City had trouble slowing down the Cardinals, but the Coal City coach Lenny Onsen, Cody’s father, pointed to his offense as a problem, too. The younger Onsen (14-for-29 passing, 265 yards) threw two interceptions, though one was a catchable ball on fourth down that deflected off his receiver’s hands in the second quarter.“And the thing is, we didn’t do anything offensively for ourselves to help our defense out today,” said Lenny Onsen. “We just didn’t make plays, and kind of shot ourselves in the foot in several places. But you got to take your hat off to a very good program. They do what they do very well. And we just didn’t make plays when we needed to make plays. They made plays, and we didn’t.”After the younger Onsen couldn’t link up with receiver on Matt Halloran on fourth and goal early in the fourth quarter, the Coalers’ hopes of a comeback were all but dashed. Onsen did find Halloran for a 78-yard touchdown pass with 46.1 seconds left in the game, as Halloran brought in a deep pass on the right sideline and outran defenders into the end zone. Coal City actually recovered the ensuing onside kick, but officials ruled it had touched a Coaler before going 10 yards.“I’m very happy with the season,” said the elder Onsen. “Again, very proud of these kids. Especially when your kid’s a senior. He’s going to graduate. I’ve been with these kids since they’ve been 6, 7 years old, with Little League programs and youth football. That’s why it’s very tough, and that’s why I get emotional. Because (of) the time I’ve been with these kids. And any time your seniors are done, it’s tough. It really is.”
Stillman Valley ends Coal City’s season
– November 7, 2011Posted in: Playoffs
STILLMAN VALLEY — Coal City entered Saturday’s Class 4A second-round matchup wary of Stillman Valley’s rushing attack.
That ground game proved to be the final dagger in the Coalers’ season.
But Coal City turnovers, as well as success from Stillman Valley’s lesser-known passing game, certainly helped the Cardinals pull away for a 28-13 win.
And so ended another strong Coal City season, one in which the Coalers rebounded from a 4-5 mark last year and a rare playoff miss.
“We had a real good year coming off last year,” said Coal City quarterback Cody Onsen, who never quite got going in the passing game Saturday. “We can’t put our heads down. We played hard all season. Just came up short tonight. We didn’t take opportunities when we had to. Can’t be holding our heads down like that.”
Stillman Valley entered with three running backs with more than 400 yards rushing on the season, but the Cardinals built a 21-7 halftime lead with the help of their passing game.
In the first quarter, Stillman Valley quarterback Jeff Cialkowski hooked up with Eric Boettcher on a quick pass over the left side. Boettcher, a step ahead of the Coaler defenders, raced in for a 78-yard score, and the extra point made it 7-0 with 5:53 left.
But Onsen showed his athleticism to help the Coalers even things on the first play of the second quarter. He moved to his left while avoiding pressure, then heaved a 43-yard bomb to Ryan Bonarek, who jumped up to reel in the touchdown pass, even though pass interference was called on the defender. The extra point made it 7-all. Coal City had brought back some of the momentum, and the quarterback was feeling better.
“Oh, yeah,” he said. “After we tied it up, we hit that one, and then just thought, ‘Let’s get it going now,’ and then we could just never get it going.”
But later in the quarter, Onsen fumbled on a rush up the middle in Stillman Valley territory. The Cardinals’ Jake Wold, one of their key running backs, raced the return back to the Coalers’ 13-yard line. Two plays later, Cialkowski found Jordan Tanaglia across the middle for a 9-yard touchdown pass.
Stillman Valley’s passing game struck again at the end of the half. Cialkowski found Tanaglia for a 23-yard pass on fourth down, moving the Cardinals to Coal City’s 6-yard line. On fourth and goal, Cialkowski found P.J. Gammel across the middle for a 5-yard touchdown with 19.3 seconds left in the half.
Stillman Valley’s well-known rushing game buried the Coalers on the opening drive of the second half. On a nine-play drive — all on the ground — Wold ran for a 5-yard touchdown with 8:49 left in the quarter. The extra point made it 28-7. Stillman Valley didn’t throw a pass in the second half.
Coal City had trouble slowing down the Cardinals, but the Coal City coach Lenny Onsen, Cody’s father, pointed to his offense as a problem, too. The younger Onsen (14-for-29 passing, 265 yards) threw two interceptions, though one was a catchable ball on fourth down that deflected off his receiver’s hands in the second quarter.
“And the thing is, we didn’t do anything offensively for ourselves to help our defense out today,” said Lenny Onsen. “We just didn’t make plays, and kind of shot ourselves in the foot in several places. But you got to take your hat off to a very good program. They do what they do very well. And we just didn’t make plays when we needed to make plays. They made plays, and we didn’t.”
After the younger Onsen couldn’t link up with receiver on Matt Halloran on fourth and goal early in the fourth quarter, the Coalers’ hopes of a comeback were all but dashed. Onsen did find Halloran for a 78-yard touchdown pass with 46.1 seconds left in the game, as Halloran brought in a deep pass on the right sideline and outran defenders into the end zone.
Coal City actually recovered the ensuing onside kick, but officials ruled it had touched a Coaler before going 10 yards.
“I’m very happy with the season,” said the elder Onsen. “Again, very proud of these kids. Especially when your kid’s a senior. He’s going to graduate. I’ve been with these kids since they’ve been 6, 7 years old, with Little League programs and youth football. That’s why it’s very tough, and that’s why I get emotional. Because (of) the time I’ve been with these kids. And any time your seniors are done, it’s tough. It really is.”
About the Author
Kyle Garmes joined the The Daily Journal sports staff as a part-time reporter in 2010 and joined the paper full-time in 2011. He is the beat reporter for boys and girls soccer, boys and girls golf, and wrestling.
Kyle graduated from the University of Illinois in 2006. He received a master's degree in journalism from Roosevelt University in December, 2010. He's a native of Chicago's South Side, and a graduate of Brother Rice High School, where he played soccer four years and basketball for one.